Drinking while you are in may lead to a loss of brain tissue later in life.

A new study, led by Jingzhong Ding, research associate at the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University, found increased alcohol intake was associated with brain atrophy, or loss of brain tissue.

Researchers evaluated 1,909 patients ages 55 and older from North Carolina and Mississippi who were already participants in a study on the buildup of plaque in arteries.

Participants underwent an MRI to measure the voids of the brain containing only cerebrospinal fluid. An increase in the size of these voids indicates a reduction of brain tissue.

Information was gathered between 1987 and 1989 and follow-up examinations were performed every three years until 1995.

“The mechanisms underlying the association of alcohol intake with brain atrophy are unclear,” said researchers in the study. “Alcohol may contribute to atrophy directly … or indirectly.”

Researchers also said brain atrophy may be reversible through sustained abstinence from alcohol.

However, Ding said a definitive cause-and-effect link cannot be made between drinking and brain atrophy because MRIs were done only once during the study.

Researchers also found only a small reduction in tissue. “The clinical significance of the small reduction for brain volume associated with moderate alcohol drinking observed in the present study is unknown,” said researchers in the study.

The study also found that alcohol consumption does not lower the risk of a stroke, as previously believed. This leads to inconsistencies between this study and studies that have found it to be beneficial.

When drinking, students must keep in mind the safety of themselves and others, said Sara Kellogg, program coordinator for substance abuse and violence prevention.

Kellogg said she is not familiar with the findings, but said “it is best when you have multiple studies.”

Kellogg said she is not aware of specific studies on the harmful effects of low to moderate drinking. The physical effects of low to moderate drinking and heavy drinking differ too much to compare fairly, she said.

— CNN.com contributed to this article.