Brain Health: Substance Use
There are many links between brain health, physical health and mental health. Brain health means that your brain keeps working well as you get older. Learn more about what causes memory problems, and tips for taking care of your brain health. Talk with your health care provider if you are worried about changes in your memory or thinking.
All substance use affects your brain
What you inhale, drink, or eat affects your brain health. Aging involves changes in how our body processes and uses any substances we take in. As we get older, our body has a harder time clearing out toxic substances. The brain is very sensitive to toxic substances and less able to protect itself from permanent damage. Substances like alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis can cause confusion and other thinking difficulties, even if they did not earlier in life. Substances can also cause problems with balance and worsen mental health.
Alcohol use
Drinking any amount of alcohol has possible health risks. Did you know that recommended limits for alcohol are different for older adults versus younger adults?
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All adults ages 65 and older should have no more than 1 drink a day and no more than 7 drinks per week.
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Choosing not to drink any alcohol can promote health and prevent disease.
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Moderate to heavy alcohol use, especially when it continues over many years, causes damage to your liver and pancreas. It can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease and failure, and increase your risk of stroke and memory impairment.
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Even small quantities of alcohol can be a problem when combined with certain medicines and in people with health problems. Even in the healthiest of older adults, if body composition and metabolism have changed, it affects how alcohol is processed and cleared by the liver.
Tobacco use
Tobacco use has negative health effects beyond lungs.
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Nicotine has harmful effects on the brain no matter how you use it. There may be some differences in health risk based on if you smoke, vape, or chew it
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Tobacco users can benefit from quitting. Quitting at any age can start to reduce the risk of some health problems that can affect the brain, for example, heart disease and lung cancer.
Cannabis use
No matter how cannabis is used or for what purpose, it can change the brain. It can impair attention, concentration, memory, and body coordination.
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Cannabis can be bought in different forms, which may carry different risks, but all forms get into the brain and can affect it.
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While cannabis is legal in many states and U.S. territories, it has not been legalized at a federal level. If you use cannabis, please share this information with your health care provider as it can interact with other medicines and certain health conditions.
What you can do
Here are some tips to help you quit or reduce alcohol and other substance use:
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Reach out to a member of your health care team to learn more about what you can do to reduce your use of substances.
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Drinking less alcohol reduces harm to your brain and body. Do you need help cutting back or quitting? VA has services to help you reduce your drinking.
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It is never too late to quit smoking! Heart healthy choices like quitting smoking and eating a healthy diet may reduce your risk of dementia and help with clear thinking. Learn how VA can help you quit.
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Concerns about cannabis use? Learn more about cannabis use disorder and treatment options.
To learn more
These resources can help:
If you are having thoughts of hurting yourself, get help right away.
The 24-Hour Veterans Crisis Line is 9-8-8, then press 1. Or text: 838255.
You can dial 9-1-1 or go to an emergency room.
This HealthSheet was created by VA's Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) Aging and Cognition Education (ACE) Project.