Self-reported alcohol intake and cognition in aging twins

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neuroscience
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Long-term alcohol intake is a significant public health concern.
• Cognitive decline is a common issue in aging populations.
• Understanding the impact of alcohol on cognitive function is crucial for healthy aging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between long-term alcohol consumption and cognitive performance in aging Caucasian men.
• To assess cognitive function in diagnosed alcoholics compared to non-alcoholics.
• To examine the dose-response relationship between alcohol intake levels and cognitive scores.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort and co-twin-control study design.
• Utilized data from the National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council (NAS-NRC) Twin Panel of U.S. veterans.
• Included self-reported alcohol intake from the 1970s and 1980s, and cognitive testing via telephone mental status interview in 1990-1991.

Main Results:

• Diagnosed alcoholics exhibited significantly lower cognitive scores than non-alcoholics, adjusted for age and education.
• Past drinkers showed lower cognitive scores than non-drinkers and most drinker quintiles.
• Moderate drinkers (quintile 4) had higher cognitive scores than light (quintile 1) and heavy drinkers (quintile 5).
• Monozygotic twins with moderate intake scored higher than their co-twins with lower intake.

Conclusions:

• No association was found between moderate long-term alcohol intake and diminished cognitive function in aging men.
• A potential small protective effect of past moderate alcohol consumption on cognitive function in aging was suggested.
• Heavy alcohol consumption and alcoholism are linked to poorer cognitive outcomes in older adults.