Alcohol Drinking, Cognitive Functions in Older Age, Predementia, and Dementia Syndromes

Abstract

Among lifestyle-related factors, low to moderate alcohol drinking has been proposed as a protective factor against the development of age-related changes in cognitive function, predementia syndromes, and cognitive decline of degenerative (Alzheimer's disease, AD) or vascular origin (vascular dementia, VaD) in several longitudinal studies, but contrasting findings also exist. Furthermore, many of these studies were limited by cross-sectional design, restriction by age or sex, or incomplete ascertainment. Different outcomes, beverages, drinking patterns, or follow-up periods, or possible interactions with other lifestyle-related (i.e., smoking) or genetic factors [i.e., apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotyping] may be sources of great variability. Light to moderate alcohol use may be associated with a reduced risk of unspecified incident dementia and AD, while for VaD, cognitive decline, and predementia syndromes, the current evidence is only suggestive of a protective effect. In conclusion, as intervention studies are not feasible in this area, the best evidence comes from an overview of epidemiological studies, suggesting that the protective effects are more likely with wine consumption and the absence of an APOE e4 allele. At present, there is no indication that light to moderate alcohol drinking would be harmful to cognition and dementia, and it is not possible to define a specific beneficial level of alcohol intake.

Understanding the protective effects of wine components and their metabolites in the brain function

“…Several epidemiology studies have suggested that moderate wine intake (250 mL per day) can be beneficial in delaying the onset of cognitive impairments in aging and neurodegenerative diseases [2,3]. In agreement with this, evidences from human randomized controlled trials based on acute supplementations with specific wine compounds reinforce this benefit [4].…”

Alcohol and older people from a public health perspective

“…In their systematic review of 49 studies, Panza et al [43] concluded that light to moderate drinking is not harmful to cognition and dementia, although it AlcoHol And tHe elderly. tHe europeAn project VIntAge was not possible to define a specific beneficial level of intake.…”

The effect of clinical, demographic and lifestyle factors on executive functions in middle aged and older women

“…Research does not indicate that increasing alcohol use results in increased cognitive benefit, rather that abstainers and high-level users perform at similar levels, such that a U shape distribution is often observed [35,36]. …”