Alcohol Could Prevent Cognitive Decline in Older Adults

Consuming 1 to 2 alcoholic drinks a day may be associated with long-term cognitive health in older adults, according to a recent study.

The study included 1344 older community-dwelling adults who completed a baseline questionnaire on alcohol intake in 1984-1987 and cognitive function assessments conducted at 4 year intervals between 1988 and 2009. Cognitively healthy longevity was defined as living to the age of 85 without cognitive impairment. Researchers assessed the associations between alcohol consumption and cognitively healthy longevity, survival to 85 years of age with cognitive impairment, and death before 85 years of age.
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Over the median 13.9 years of follow-up, 353 participants (26%) were classified as cognitively healthy at 85 years of age, 445 were cognitively impaired at 85 years of age, and 546 (41%) died before reaching 85 years of age.

Current alcohol intake was reported by 88% of participants, 49% of whom reported moderate alcohol intake (between 1 and 2 drinks per day), and 48% reported drinking near-daily (5 to 7 times per week).

Participants identified as moderate and heavy drinkers had significantly higher adjusted odds of living to 85 years of age without cognitive impairment compared with nondrinkers. Those who reported drinking 5 to 7 times during the week had a 2-fold to 3-fold higher adjusted odds of living to the age of 85 and being cognitively healthy compared with living to at least 85 years of age with cognitive impairment or dying before reaching 85 years of age.

“Although excessive drinking has negative health consequences, these results suggest that regular, moderate drinking may play a role in cognitively healthy longevity,” the researchers concluded.

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

Richard EL, Kritz-Silverstein D, Laughlin GA, Fung TT, Barrett-Connor E, McEvoy LK. Alcohol intake and cognitively healthy longevity in community-dwelling adults: The Rancho Bernardo Study [published online August 2, 2017]. J Alzheimers Dis. doi:10.3233/JAD-161153.