Researchers looked at the brain autopsies of 1,781 people with an average age of 75. After family members answered questions about the participants’ drinking habits, they divided them into four groups: people who never drank, moderate drinkers (fewer than seven per week), heavy drinkers, and former heavy drinkers.

Scientists looked at brain mass and signs of injury, including tau tangles, a buildup of a protein linked to Alzheimer’s disease, and vascular brain lesions, which are signs of damaged blood vessels that restrict blood flow and can impair memory and cognition over time.

Researchers also found heavy and former heavy drinkers had greater risk of developing the Alzheimer’s biomarker—41% and 31% higher odds, respectively.

When adjusting for other factors that may affect brain health—such as aging, smoking, and physical activity—researchers found that heavy drinkers had 133% higher odds of having vascular brain lesions compared to those who never drank. Former heavy drinkers had 89% higher odds and moderate drinkers had 60% higher.