Alcohol drinking patterns have a positive association with cognitive function among older people: a cross-sectional...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neuroscience
• Public Health

Background:

• The impact of alcohol consumption patterns on cognitive function in older adults remains unclear.
• Existing research often overlooks specific drinking habits like frequency, beverage type, and drinking occasions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between various alcohol drinking patterns and cognitive function.
• To investigate cognitive performance in Japanese individuals aged 75 and older based on their drinking habits.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional analysis of data from the SONIC study, including participants aged 75-77 and 85-87.
• Assessment of cognitive function using the Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-J).
• Collection of detailed drinking information (frequency, intake, type, occasion) and relevant covariates.

Main Results:

• Higher MoCA-J scores were observed in individuals drinking 1-6 days/week compared to non-drinkers or daily drinkers.
• Wine consumption and non-daily drinking opportunities were positively associated with MoCA-J scores.
• No significant association was found between daily alcohol intake volume and cognitive function.

Conclusions:

• Moderate-frequency alcohol consumption, particularly wine, and non-daily drinking are linked to enhanced cognitive function in older Japanese adults.
• Findings suggest specific drinking patterns may benefit cognitive health in the elderly population.
• Further longitudinal research is recommended to establish causality.