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Moderate drinking may benefit cognitive health in old age

Older adults who regularly drink moderate amounts alcohol are more likely to live to the age of 85 years without cognitive impairment compared to nondrinkers, according to findings published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

“The importance of drinking pattern in prolonging cognitive health is not well known and merits greater attention,” Erin L. Richard, graduate student from the department of family medicine and public health at the University of California San Diego, and colleagues wrote. “Several studies report that the benefits of moderate alcohol intake also extend to the maintenance of cognitive health in late life; however, the association in not consistent. The characterization of alcohol exposure, the cognitive outcomes assessed, and the consideration of confounding variables varies widely across studies.”

Researchers examined the relationship between amount and frequency of drinking and cognitively healthy longevity, defined as living to age 85 years without cognitive impairment, among 1,344 older adults living in nursing home communities. They assessed alcohol intake data from participants enrolled in the Rancho Bernardo Study, an ongoing cohort study established in 1972-1974 of San Diego residents aged 30 and older. The researchers measured alcohol consumption using self-administered questionnaires completed during the 1984-1987 follow-up visit. Between 1988 and 2009, they assessed cognitive function in 4-year intervals.

Analysis showed that 88% of participants currently consumed some alcohol, 49% reported moderate drinking and 48% reported drinking nearly everyday. Men and women aged 85 years and older who drank moderate-to-heavy amounts of alcohol 5 to 7 days a week were twice as likely to be cognitively healthy compared to nondrinkers. Moderate-to-heavy drinkers, considered those aged 65 years and older who consumed up to three drinks per day and men aged younger than 65 years who consumed up to four drinks per day, experienced significantly higher likelihood of surviving to age 85 without cognitive impairment compared to nondrinkers (P < .05). Those who drank nearly every day had a 2- to 3-fold higher chance of cognitively healthy longevity compared with living to at least age 85 with cognitive impairment (OR = 2.06; 95% CI, 1.21-3.49) or mortality before age 85 (OR = 3.24; 95% CI, 1.92-5.46).

“This study shows that moderate drinking may be part of a healthy lifestyle to maintain cognitive fitness in aging,” Richard said in the press release. “However, it is not a recommendation for everyone to drink. Some people have health problems that are made worse by alcohol, and others cannot limit their drinking to only a glass or two per day. For these people, drinking can have negative consequences.” – by Savannah Demko

Disclosures: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.