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Updated: May 24, 2026
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Disruption of Frontal Lobe Neural Synchrony During Cognitive Control by Alcohol Intoxication
Published on: February 6, 2019
Alcohol and cognition in the elderly: a review
Jee Wook Kim1, Dong Young Lee, Boung Chul Lee
1Department of Neuropsychiatry, Hallym University Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Psychiatry Investigation
|March 8, 2012
Summary
Moderate alcohol consumption may protect elderly individuals from cognitive decline and dementia. However, research findings vary, necessitating further studies to determine optimal drinking patterns for cognitive health in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Public Health
Background:
- Alcohol consumption has known negative health effects, but moderate intake may offer protective benefits.
- The impact of alcohol on cognition, particularly in the elderly, requires further investigation regarding optimal consumption patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically review existing research on the effects of alcohol on cognitive function and dementia in the elderly.
- To investigate the drinking patterns that may offer protection against cognitive decline and dementia in older adults.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature review of studies published between 1971 and 2011.
- Utilized PubMed search to identify relevant research on alcohol consumption and cognitive function in the elderly.
Main Results:
- Excessive alcohol intake is linked to increased risk of cognitive dysfunction and dementia in the elderly.
- Low to moderate alcohol consumption may protect against cognitive decline and dementia, also offering cardiovascular benefits.
- Findings on alcohol's protective effects should be interpreted cautiously due to methodological variations and lack of standardized definitions.
Conclusions:
- Alcohol can exert both neurotoxic and neuroprotective effects on the aging brain.
- Evidence suggests potential cognitive benefits from low to moderate alcohol intake in the elderly, but requires cautious interpretation.
- Further well-designed studies are crucial to identify specific alcohol drinking patterns for optimal protection against cognitive decline and dementia in older adults.
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