While alcohol consumption is known to increase morbidity and mortality, its long-term effects on cognitive function and dementia -related brain injuries remain uncertain. To investigate this further, a study has analyzed data from 1,781 individuals (mean age: 74.9 years) to assess the impact of different alcohol consumption patterns on cognitive decline and dementia -related neuropathological risk. The study found that moderate (odd ratio (OR): 1.60), heavy (OR: 2.33), and former heavy (OR: 1.89) alcohol consumption were associated with hyaline arteriolosclerosis, a condition linked to dementia, compared to no alcohol consumption.
Additionally, heavy (OR: 1.41) and former heavy (OR 1.31) drinking were linked to the presence of neurofibrillary tangles, a biomarker of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Former heavy drinkers also exhibited a lower brain mass ratio and poorer cognitive performance.…
