History of drinking problems diminishes the protective effects of within-guideline drinking on 18-year risk of dementia and CIND

BMC Public Health

Rudolf H. Moos¹  Charles J. Holahan²  Kathleen K. Schutte³  Penny L. Brennan⁴ 

[1]Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA, USA

[2]Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA

[3]Independent Researcher, Cupertino, CA, USA

[4]Institute for Health & Aging, University of California, San Francisco, Box 0646, 490 Illinois St., Floor 12, 94143, San Francisco, CA, USA

关键词: Older adults;    Alcohol consumption;    Drinking problems;    Dementia;    CIND;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-021-12358-4

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

ObjectiveTo examine the moderating effect of older adults’ history of drinking problems on the relationship between their baseline alcohol consumption and risk of dementia and cognitive impairment, no dementia (CIND) 18 years later.MethodA longitudinal Health and Retirement Study cohort (n = 4421) was analyzed to demonstrate how older adults’ baseline membership in one of six drinking categories (non-drinker, within-guideline drinker, and outside-guideline drinker groups, divided to reflect absence or presence of a history of drinking problems) predicts dementia and CIND 18 years later.ResultsAmong participants with no history of drinking problems, 13% of non-drinkers, 5% of within-guideline drinkers, and 9% of outside-guideline drinkers were classified as having dementia 18-years later. Among those with a history of drinking problems, 14% of non-drinkers, 9% of within-guideline drinkers, and 7% of outside-guideline drinkers were classified with dementia. With Non-Drinker, No HDP as reference category, being a baseline within-guideline drinker with no history of drinking problems reduced the likelihood of dementia 18 years later by 45%, independent of baseline demographic and health characteristics; being a baseline within-guideline drinker with a history of drinking problems reduced the likelihood by only 13% (n.s.). Similar patterns obtained for the prediction of CIND.ConclusionsFor older adults, consuming alcohol at levels within validated guidelines for low-risk drinking may offer moderate long-term protection from dementia and CIND, but this effect is diminished by having a history of drinking problems. Efforts to predict and prevent dementia and CIND should focus on older adults’ history of drinking problems in addition to how much alcohol they consume.

【 授权许可】

CC BY