Averaging more than 12 grams of alcohol per day may increase risk of dementia. Alcohol from spirits appears particularly important for the increased dementia risk. Genetic and/or familial factors do not explain these associations. Alcohol use reduction may be a useful population-wide intervention strategy.

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Sleep and NSES were associated with cognitive decline; the association between sleep and cognition appeared stronger among those with low NSES. The association between low NSES, poor sleep quality, and cognitive decline was roughly equivalent to the association between apolipoprotein E ε4 and cognitive decline.

ObjectiveSome data suggests that obesity blunts the benefits of exercise on mobility in older adults. We tested the homogeneity of the effect of a physical activity intervention on major mobility disability across baseline obesity classifications in the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) Study. LIFE randomized 1,635 sedentary men and women 70–89 years to a moderate intensity physical activity (PA) or health education (HE) program.MethodsMajor mobility disability (MMD), defined as the inability to walk 400m, was determined over an average follow up of 2.6 years. Participants were divided into 4 subgroups: 1) non-obese (BMI < 30 kg/m2; n=437); 2) non-obese with high waist circumference (WC >102 cm [men], >88 cm [women]; n=434); 3) class 1 obesity (30 kg/m2 ≤ BMI < 35 kg/m2; n=430); and 4) class 2+ obesity (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2; n=312). Cox proportional hazard modeling was used to test an obesity by intervention interaction.ResultsThe PA intervention had the largest benefit in participants with class 2+ obesity (HR 0.69, 95% CI 0.48, 0.98). However, there was no statistically significant difference in benefit across obesity categories.ConclusionA structured PA program reduced the risk of MMD even in older adults with extreme obesity.

Background and Objectives While several studies have examined the association between cognitive and physical function, the consistency of these associations across functional contexts is unclear. The consistency of association between cognitive and physical function performance was examined at baseline across 17 clinical studies with diverse and heterogeneous conditions such as overweight/obese, sedentary, at risk for a mobility disability, osteoarthritis, low vitamin D, or had signs of cognitive impairment. Research Design and Methods Data are from 1,388 adults 50 years and older who completed a cognitive and physical function assessment as part of a research study at the Wake Forest Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center or the Wake Forest Older Americans Independence Center. Linear regression models were used to relate cognitive measures [Mini Mental Status Exam (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and the Digit Symbol Substitution Task (DSST)], and physical measures [the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and hand grip strength] for the whole sample and treat each study as a fixed effect. All models controlled for age, sex, race, and body mass index (BMI). Results Overall, there was a significant association between higher scores on the MMSE (per standard deviation) and better physical function performance (SPPB score b= 0.24, p &lt;0.001) and its components (gait speed, chair rise, and standing balance; p’s &lt;0.05). Higher scores on the MoCA produced similar results (SPPB score b= 0.31, p= &lt;0.001) and higher scores on the DSST were also significantly associated with a better SPPB score (b= 0.75, p &lt;0.001). The relationship between DSST and physical function performance demonstrated a stronger magnitude of association compared to the MMSE or MoCA. Discussion and Implications Older adults with heterogenous health conditions showed a consistent pattern between better cognitive function and better physical function performance with the strongest association among DSST scores.