Whole-Body and Brain Changes Associated with Alcohol Intake in Adults Without Alcohol Use Disorder

Motivation: Current research on alcohol's impact on brain structure focuses on individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD), leaving effects on non-AUD drinkers underexplored. Moreover, no studies have simultaneously examined both brain and organ volume changes via MRI. Goal(s): To determine if moderate to high alcohol intake is linked to structural changes in brain and whole-body metrics among non-AUD individuals. Approach: We analyzed 1,134 MRI scans, comparing metrics in matched pairs of abstainers and drinkers, using segmentation models for body and brain volumes. Results: Alcohol consumption group exhibited larger liver and kidney, higher visceral fat, and greater brain atrophy than abstainers, with significant cross-organ associations. Impact: This study uniquely links alcohol consumption with structural changes in both brain and body organs among non-AUD individuals. These findings prompt further investigation into alcohol's broader health implications, particularly concerning cross-organ relationships and their clinical significance.