Is There a Link Between Alzheimer’s and Substance Use?

This afternoon, I found myself reflecting on Alzheimer's disease—and a question rose in my mind that I believe many of us should be asking: Could long-term drug and alcohol use be a contributing factor to developing Alzheimer’s later in life?

The thought isn't random. It’s grounded in a simple observation: the sensation of being “high” or intoxicated is not just a feeling—it’s a direct result of how substances chemically alter the brain. When that alteration becomes routine, prolonged, and intense, what is the long-term cost?

Speaking from experience, I know the effects of what I call “artificial attitude adjusters.” I began intensely using in the military at age 18. I stayed in that lifestyle until age 28, when I made a life-altering decision to walk away from it all.

Now, at almost 67, I’ve been sober for nearly 40 years. I’ve spent those decades living with discipline—grounded in clean nutrition, regular exercise, spiritual development, and a relentless pursuit of growth.

My hope—and belief—is that I’ve not only healed from my past, but also fortified my mind and body in the process.

But my question still lingers—not out of fear, but out of awareness. Let’s take a look at the medical evidence.

The Medical View: What Science Says About Substance Use and Cognitive Decline

Numerous studies have shown that chronic alcohol use can significantly damage the brain. Alcohol, especially when consumed heavily over long periods, causes brain shrinkage—particularly in areas tied to memory and executive function, like the hippocampus and frontal lobe.

It also compromises the blood-brain barrier, allowing toxins to reach areas of the brain they were never meant to. Over time, this deterioration contributes to what’s known as alcohol-related dementia, a condition that mirrors many of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s.

As for drug use, the picture is equally sobering. Stimulants like methamphetamine and cocaine, as well as long-term use of opioids or benzodiazepines, have been linked to memory loss, reduced cognitive flexibility, and damage to the brain’s neural circuitry. The brain adapts to repeated intoxication by rewiring itself, and in doing so, often damages the very networks it needs to stay sharp as we age.

Even marijuana, while often considered mild, has been shown in some long-term studies to affect short-term memory and motivation when used chronically, especially during adolescent brain development.

A powerful study published in The Lancet Public Health found that people with alcohol use disorders were over three times more likely to develop any form of dementia, including Alzheimer’s. The damage isn't just emotional or social—it’s anatomical.

Why Lifestyle Redemption Matters

That said, the story doesn’t have to end there. Researchers have also found that the brain has a remarkable capacity for neuroplasticity—the ability to heal, rewire, and strengthen itself—when given the right environment.

A healthy lifestyle built on nutrient-dense foods, physical exercise, cognitive stimulation, strong relationships, and purposeful living can significantly reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s, even in those who had earlier risk factors like substance use. This is not anecdotal hope—it’s science. What we do in our 40s, 50s, and 60s has a profound effect on how well our minds hold up in our 70s, 80s, and beyond.

So, in asking whether past drug and alcohol use increases the risk of Alzheimer’s, the answer is: Yes, it can. But the second part of that truth is just as vital: What you do after you stop matters even more.

Final Word

If you’ve walked a road like mine—if you’ve lived hard in your early years, but turned the page—you are not doomed. You are, in fact, proof that transformation is real. Your commitment to health, discipline, and clear thinking doesn’t just help your heart and body—it protects your mind.

For me, every healthy choice I make is another brick in the fortress guarding my future. I believe we are never too far gone, never too late, and never too old to do right by our minds.

Walking It Out: The Unseen Power of Commitment in a Distracted Age

In a world dominated by distraction, instant gratification, and social noise, the pursuit of long-term goals can feel nearly impossible. For many, the idea of following through on a dream feels like a romantic notion reserved for youth or the lucky few. But the truth is this: what you want is still within reach. You haven’t aged out of growth. The obstacle is not your ability—it’s your willingness to walk it out.

Too often, when faced with difficulty or delay, we forfeit our dreams at the first sign of struggle. But if we are honest, the real problem is not the challenge itself; it's that we've allowed modern life to dull the qualities we once had as children: persistence, resilience, and simple belief. Think of a toddler learning to walk. They fall dozens of times, but never quit. If adults applied that same tenacity to their goals, their lives would be dramatically different.

This essay is about reclaiming that mindset. It's about taking responsibility for your life and rejecting the temptation to surrender because "it takes too long" or "it’s too hard." Whether you’re chasing a degree at 50, running your first mile at 60, or pursuing a dream after years of dormancy, this message is for you. It’s not about having the perfect plan; it’s about starting with the part you can control and staying pliable along the way.

I offer no theories here, only what I know from living it. I worked full-time while earning three degrees. I became a scuba diver at 62. I raised a daughter who learned how to run a mile not because it was easy, but because she decided to keep trying through tears. The same persistence lives in you. The process will be uncomfortable. It will require adaptation. But it will work if you work it.

Do not fear the slow path. Refuse to be paralyzed by perfectionism. The first step is enough to start. The rest unfolds. You don’t need all the answers—you need commitment. Plans evolve because you evolve. Growth happens not in leaps, but in daily decisions.

Stay positive. Be kind. Avoid the toxicity of blame, gossip, and negativity. Take care of your health. Encourage others. Focus on what you can do, not what others won’t do for you. The path to your dream isn’t blocked by institutions or policies as much as it is by hesitation, excuses, and self-sabotage.

So start. Then keep going. Adjust as you grow. And when you reach your goal, you’ll not only inspire others, but you’ll realize the journey made you more powerful, more joyful, and more capable than you ever imagined.

Interpretation: This message is ultimately about rediscovering agency—that deeply personal sense of ownership over one's life. It calls on readers to shake off the disempowering habits of excuse-making, negativity, and stagnation, and to return to the raw determination we all once had. The heart of the essay is not success for its own sake, but the reclamation of personal power through unwavering commitment.

Analysis: In a time when so many feel powerless—due to societal shifts, economic pressure, or personal loss—this message is profoundly relevant. It stands in contrast to a culture that glorifies ease and shuns struggle. It speaks especially to those who feel overlooked, discouraged, or weighed down by regret. The promise here is not false hope, but real transformation grounded in personal responsibility and consistent effort. In a society obsessed with shortcuts and influencers, what people truly crave is sustainable, inner-powered progress.

Life Application: You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight. You just need to begin. Identify one area of your life where you have quit prematurely. Ask yourself what it would look like to start again. Make a plan—even if it’s just for this week. Then follow through. Expect discomfort, but keep moving. Take care of your health, not just for longevity but for clarity. And above all, commit to being the kind of person who keeps going.

Self-Assessment Questions:

1. What goals have I abandoned due to fear, fatigue, or self-doubt?

2. Do I hold a victim mindset, or do I see myself as the author of my life?

3. When was the last time I committed to something long-term and followed through?

4. How has negativity, either in myself or in others, held me back?

5. Do I have a plan in place for one of my dreams? If not, why?

6. In what ways can I be more consistent with my physical, emotional, or mental health?

7. What would my life look like one year from now if I simply refused to give up?

   
   

Stay with it. Your future self is counting on you.

Do Right. Live Right. Be the Change

"Black Lives Matter." It is a phrase that has echoed across the globe, a rallying cry and a philosophical statement demanding justice, recognition, and dignity. But beyond protests and political discourse, the deeper question remains: Do our choices reflect that we believe our lives matter? Not just rhetorically, but practically. The way we live, the decisions we make, and how we guide our families must prove that we value ourselves. This is not just about systemic reform, but personal transformation.

Across time, society has attempted to define our worth through institutions, biases, and barriers. Yet, something profound shifts when we no longer wait for affirmation from the outside, but take control of our own lives from the inside. If you want to affirm that your life matters, then your actions must say it louder than any slogan. Because in the end, dignity is not granted. It is claimed.

Years ago, I was not the man I am today. My life was an ongoing cycle of partying, unhealthy habits, and shallow gratification. I lived recklessly. My daily routine prioritized buzz over purpose. My finances were a mess, my health was poor, and I had no clear direction. But then something shifted in me at age 28. I realized: If I kept doing what I was doing, I’d never become the man I needed to be. I needed agency. I needed a reset.

So I did something radical. I got rid of everything that defined that self-destructive identity. I cleared my apartment of the trophies, the alcohol, the trinkets I used to justify a life that wasn’t working. That day, I chose to live like my life mattered.

I stopped the substances. I went back to school at 50. Ten years later, I had earned my MBA. My daughter watched me study daily from the time she was 3 until she was 13. She never saw me quit, and now she’s a sophomore at college, planning to become an attorney. My son graduated with zero college debt. This didn’t happen by chance. It happened by choice.

Now at 66, I’m in good health. I exercise daily. I eat intentionally. I have multiple income streams, including real estate investments and self-published books. I’m not wealthy, but I’m financially stable. Most importantly, I am free—free from dependency, free from excuses, free from bitterness, free from blaming a world that will never hand you what you refuse to fight for.

So, does your life reflect that your life matters?

Because here’s the truth: You can live above the systems. You can live beyond the stereotypes. You can live outside the trap. But it starts by no longer giving your power away.

You are not powerless. You are not voiceless. You are not doomed.

You have to eat right. Exercise. Learn. Evolve. Work. Save. Parent intentionally. Show up early. Speak clearly. Think critically. Live with purpose.

And when you do that, your life becomes the very evidence that you mattered.

Interpretation: What This Message Is Really About

This essay is not just about politics or slogans; it is a call for personal accountability and transformation. It challenges individuals—especially those who feel systemically marginalized—to reclaim their agency. It urges people to live in a way that affirms their dignity, not only for themselves but for the next generation. It is a challenge to stop outsourcing responsibility to systems and start internalizing the belief that "my life matters" through daily disciplined action.

Analysis: The Social and Spiritual Relevance Today

In a culture where headlines are louder than actions and distractions drown out purpose, people are quietly longing for something real. We live in an era of digital outrage but private despair. We post quotes about change, justice, and equality, but rarely transform our own lives.

This message calls for a deeper awakening. For individuals to move from performative belief to transformative living. In a world that often strips people of dignity, this essay reminds us that self-respect is restored through action. Leadership today doesn’t just mean being elected or followed—it means being observed. Your children are watching. Your community is watching. The question is: What do they see?

Life Application:

Maybe you’ve felt stuck. Maybe you’ve been waiting for someone to give you permission to grow. Let this be your permission slip.

Get serious. Make the phone call. Take the class. Stop poisoning your body. Start feeding your mind. Set the alarm clock earlier. Stop spending money you don’t have. Stop wasting time you won’t get back.

You may have started behind, but you don’t have to finish there. The systems weren’t designed with you in mind—but that doesn’t mean you have to be trapped by them.

Be the example that proves your life matters.

Self-Assessment Questions

1. Do my daily choices reflect that I believe my life matters?

2. Am I living a lifestyle that inspires the next generation to believe in their own worth?

3. What habits am I maintaining that are keeping me in cycles of frustration or failure?

4. How do I respond to systems or people who attempt to limit me?

5. What is one small decision I can make today that affirms my dignity and future?

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You don't have to wait for change. You are the change. It starts with one decision—then another. And before long, your life becomes the loudest protest of all: proof that you matter.