People’s brains deteriorate and shrink with almost 2% per decade as time flies by, but some new research shows that alcohol can also rush the process. Scientists conducted a study taking magnetic resonance imaging of the brains of different individuals in the U.S and have found that people who have never drank alcohol have a brain that occupies 78.6% of the space in their cranium.

On the other hand, people that gave up drinking had their brain occupying 78.6% of the space in their cranium, moderate drinkers drop even lower at 77.8% and heavy drinkers have the tiniest brain, occupying 77.2% of the space in their cranium.

These new finds actually go against of other alcohol-related medical theories which actually stated that alcohol could slow down the shrinking process of our brain. This new data shows that alcohol actually does exactly the opposite, it accelerates our brains shrink. Alcohol is also believed to improve heart function and a glass of red wine is indicated after a hard day at work. This new information also throws another shadow on the dangers of alcohol abuse. Alcohol is associated with cardiovascular diseases and can cause addiction.

Though, alcohol rushes the process of brain shrinking, there is no real proof that brain volume actually helps memory or other cognitive processes. This find is quite interesting and might, some day, show us the link, if there is one, between brain volume and healthy, efficient mental function. Overall, excessive drinking should be a thing to avoid as it can lead to other serious health issues, more serious than your brain shrinking.