You are here

Prospective study of alcohol consumption and risk of dementia in older adults.

TitleProspective study of alcohol consumption and risk of dementia in older adults.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2003
AuthorsMukamal, KJ, Kuller, LH, Fitzpatrick, AL, Longstreth, WT, Mittleman, MA, Siscovick, DS
JournalJAMA
Volume289
Issue11
Pagination1405-13
Date Published2003 Mar 19
ISSN0098-7484
KeywordsAged, Alcohol Drinking, Apolipoprotein E4, Apolipoproteins E, Brain, Case-Control Studies, Dementia, Female, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Neuropsychological Tests, Prospective Studies, Risk
Abstract<p><b>CONTEXT: </b>Alcohol consumption has been associated with complex changes in cerebral vasculature and structure in older adults. How alcohol consumption affects the incidence of dementia is less clear.</p><p><b>OBJECTIVE: </b>To determine the prospective relationship of alcohol consumption and risk of dementia among older adults.</p><p><b>DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: </b>Nested case-control study of 373 cases with incident dementia and 373 controls who were among 5888 adults aged 65 years and older who participated in the Cardiovascular Health Study, a prospective, population-based cohort study in 4 US communities. The controls were frequency-matched on age, death before 1999, and their attendance of a 1998-1999 clinic. Participants in this study underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and cognitive testing between 1992 and 1994 and were followed up until 1999.</p><p><b>MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: </b>Odds of incident dementia, ascertained by detailed neurological and neuropsychological examinations according to average alcohol consumption, assessed by self-reported intake of beer, wine, and liquor at 2 visits prior to the date of the MRI.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>Compared with abstention, the adjusted odds for dementia among those whose weekly alcohol consumption was less than 1 drink were 0.65 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.41-1.02); 1 to 6 drinks, 0.46 (95% CI, 0.27-0.77); 7 to 13 drinks, 0.69 (95% CI, 0.37-1.31); and 14 or more drinks, 1.22 (95% CI, 0.60-2.49; P for quadratic term =.001). A trend toward greater odds of dementia associated with heavier alcohol consumption was most apparent among men and participants with an apolipoprotein E epsilon4 allele. We found generally similar relationships of alcohol use with Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS: </b>Compared with abstention, consumption of 1 to 6 drinks weekly is associated with a lower risk of incident dementia among older adults.</p>
DOI10.1001/jama.289.11.1405
Alternate JournalJAMA
PubMed ID12636463
Grant ListK23AA00299 / AA / NIAAA NIH HHS / United States
N01HC15103 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC85079 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC85080 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC85081 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC85082 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC85083 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC85084 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC85085 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC85086 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R01AG015928 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States