Chronic heavy drinking leads to serious risk of dementia, study warns

Questions also raised for moderate drinkers of alcohol about their social habit

Heavy drinkers are putting themselves at risk of dementia, according to the largest study of its kind ever conducted.

Research published in the Lancet Public Health journal provides powerful evidence that people who drink enough to end up in hospital are putting themselves at serious risk of vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease. It will also raise questions for moderate drinkers about the possible long-term consequences of their social habit.