In recent years, alcohol consumption in Generation Z (Gen Z; 1997-2012) has seen an increase. Seventy-four percent of Gen Zers report having had a drink over the past six months, up from 66% three years ago, according to IWSR, which researches the global beverage industry.1 This is concerning because of the known and unknown damage that alcohol can cause to your brain from overconsumption or alcohol abuse. As Dr. Hoffman explored in her research and lecture—specifically the connection between alcohol and Alzheimer's—she discussed how long-term or heavy alcohol consumption can affect regions of the brain that are biologically involved in Alzheimer's Disease, specifically regarding TARP γ-8. I wanted to explore the effects of alcohol regarding Alcohol-related Brain Damage (ARBD), with an emphasis on Alcohol-related Dementia (ARD) in Gen Z populations and the potential risks we face as drinking is becoming more popular. Although the long-term effects of alcohol consumption on Gen Z cannot yet be fully measured because of the generation's age, existing research on ARBD and ARD in older populations suggests that patterns of heavy and continued alcohol consumption may lead to increased risk to brain health.
Alcohol-related Dementia is a type of dementia that happens when drinking too much alcohol damages your brain.2 We already see what alcohol does to a person when they overconsume alcohol and become intoxicated; it leads to changes in behavior, loss of memory, and loss of cognitive function during that time of intoxication. This is because alcohol affects brain function and cognition by altering neural pathways, particularly through neurotransmitters like GABA and glutamate, which are two important neurotransmitters involved in communication between neurons. If those pathways are affected, it leads to a decrease in cognitive function, and repeated heavy alcohol consumption can produce persistent changes in the brain, which can potentially increase the risk of ARD. In Boston University's research on the relationship between alcohol and dementia, it examined data acquired from the US Million Veteran Program and the UK Biobank; the study looked at 559,559 adults, ages 56-72. The findings of this study, through observational analyses, suggest that alcohol consumption does not provide a neuroprotective effect against dementia, which challenges the idea that even light drinking may benefit long-term brain health. Even with moderate or light consumption of alcohol, there is still a high potential association with increased risk of Dementia.3
I am most worried about college-aged or coming-of-age Gen Z populations, because it is common in college environments that young adults will be exposed to opportunities for frequent and/or heavy drinking. As we cannot examine the long-term effects of alcohol consumption in Gen Z populations and their connection to ARD and ARBD, as Gen Z is too young for outcomes to be observable, we should look to the current research on older generations and their alcohol consumption and ARD. We can see a connection between continued alcohol consumption and an increased risk of ARD and ARBD, and see that it could have long-term effects on Gen Z populations' brain health. Further research is needed to determine how drinking patterns during young adulthood can influence the development of ARBD and ARD. For the time being, Gen Z understanding these risks now will be an important first step toward protecting brain health in our generation.
References:
1. Business Insider. (2026, July 19). Gen Z is in their alcohol era: The data proves it: Young Americans are boozing as much as older generations.
2. Cleveland Clinic. (2025, January 24). Alcohol-related dementia: What it is, symptoms & treatment.
3. Fomeche, J., & Rastegar, D.A. (2026, February 25). Any alcohol consumption is associated with increased dementia risk. Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Health: Current Evidence.
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