October in the Lehigh Valley brings colorful leaves, cooler evenings, apple cider, pumpkins—and a little German flair.
Bethlehem’s annual Oktoberfest returns to SteelStacks October 2–4 and 9–11, bringing German food, polka music, dancing, artisans and plenty of unusual traditions, from dachshund races to steinholding competitions.
Of course, there’s also beer.
That makes Oktoberfest an interesting opportunity to talk about something families don’t often associate with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia:
What does alcohol have to do with brain health?
The answer is more complicated than you might think.
Oktoberfest Is About More Than What’s in the Stein
Before talking about alcohol, it’s worth remembering that celebrations like Oktoberfest offer many things that can be meaningful to older adults.
Music. Food. Family. Tradition. Laughter. Familiar sights and sounds.
For someone with German or Pennsylvania German heritage, Oktoberfest traditions might even trigger memories of childhood celebrations, family recipes, polka dances or relatives who spoke Pennsylvania Dutch.
For a person living with dementia, you don’t necessarily need to attend a crowded festival to enjoy those connections.
Put on polka music.
Make potato pancakes.
Look through old family photographs.
Have pretzels and mustard.
Ask Dad whether his parents or grandparents spoke German.
The goal isn’t testing someone’s memory. It’s creating opportunities for connection.
And there’s an important distinction here: you can enjoy Oktoberfest without alcohol.
What Does Research Say About Alcohol and Dementia?
For years, people have heard that having a glass of wine or another alcoholic beverage each day might actually be “good for the brain.”
Research hasn’t produced such a simple conclusion.
Some observational studies have found what researchers describe as a J-shaped relationship: people reporting light-to-moderate alcohol consumption sometimes appeared to have lower rates of dementia than people who reported no alcohol consumption, while risk increased at higher consumption levels.
For example, a 2024 systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis involving more than 80,000 people found this pattern. However, observational research has important limitations. People who drink moderately can differ from nondrinkers in income, health, social activity, diet and other factors that may influence dementia risk.
Older studies have produced similar findings but have cautioned that these associations don’t prove alcohol itself provides protection.
That’s an important distinction.
An association isn’t the same thing as a recommendation to drink.
Newer Guidance Is More Cautious
In July 2026, the World Health Organization released updated guidelines on reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
The WHO identifies alcohol use among the potentially modifiable factors associated with dementia risk and recommends reducing alcohol consumption as part of an overall strategy for brain and cardiovascular health.
The Alzheimer’s Society similarly concludes that excessive alcohol consumption increases dementia risk and notes that moderate drinking has not been proven to provide significant protection against dementia. Its guidance specifically says someone who doesn’t currently drink shouldn’t start drinking in an attempt to reduce dementia risk.
Heavy, long-term alcohol consumption presents clearer concerns.
Alcohol can affect brain structure and function. Chronic excessive drinking can also contribute to thiamine deficiency and serious neurological conditions such as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome and other forms of alcohol-related brain damage.
What About Someone Who Already Has Dementia?
This is where families should be especially careful.
A person living with dementia may also take medications, have balance problems, experience dehydration more easily or have medical conditions that make alcohol inappropriate.
Alcohol can also impair judgment, coordination and reaction time—problems that may already be present because of dementia.
Families therefore shouldn’t assume that because Mom always enjoyed a glass of wine or Dad always had a beer during football games that alcohol remains appropriate today.
That’s a conversation worth having with the person’s physician or pharmacist.
Sometimes the ritual can remain even when the alcohol doesn’t.
Serve a nonalcoholic beer in Dad’s favorite glass.
Make an alcohol-free German punch.
Raise a stein of cider.
What matters may be less about what’s inside the glass and more about the familiar experience surrounding it.
The Healthiest Part of Oktoberfest May Be the People
There’s another interesting lesson hidden inside Oktoberfest.
We often focus on individual foods and beverages when discussing health. But healthy aging involves much more than what we eat or drink.
The WHO’s updated dementia-risk guidance also emphasizes physical activity, cognitive stimulation and social engagement, alongside management of conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.
Think about what a traditional community celebration provides.
People gather.
They talk.
They laugh.
They listen to music.
They dance.
They eat together.
They reconnect with traditions.
Those experiences remind us that maintaining social connection and engagement is an important part of healthy aging.
Create Your Own Dementia-Friendly Oktoberfest
For someone living with dementia, a huge festival may be exciting—or it may be overwhelming.
You know your loved one best.
If crowds, noise and unfamiliar environments create anxiety, consider creating a smaller Oktoberfest experience at home or during a family visit.
Play traditional German music. Serve soft pretzels, applesauce or another favorite German dish. Pull out family photographs. Decorate with blue-and-white tablecloths. Invite a few grandchildren or close friends.
Then let the experience unfold naturally.
If Mom starts singing along, sing with her.
If Dad tells the same story three times, enjoy it three times.
And if everyone simply eats a pretzel while listening to music together, that’s okay too.
Celebrate the Tradition, Not Just the Beer
Oktoberfest is a wonderful reminder that traditions can connect generations.
And for families navigating dementia, familiar traditions can become opportunities to create moments of joy even when memory itself is changing.
At South Mountain Memory Care in Emmaus, we understand that meaningful memory care isn’t simply about managing a diagnosis. It’s about continuing to recognize the person—their history, traditions, preferences, relationships and the experiences that make them who they are.
So this Oktoberfest season, raise a glass if it’s medically appropriate—or raise an alcohol-free one.
Put on some music.
Share some food.
Tell an old family story.
And celebrate something much more important than what’s inside the stein:
being together.
If someone you love is living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia and your family is beginning to consider additional support, we invite you to schedule a tour of South Mountain Memory Care in Emmaus. Come experience our small-house approach to memory care and see how familiar routines, meaningful activities and personal connections help make South Mountain feel like home.
