Alcohol intake and brain structure in a multiethnic elderly cohort
- PMID: 24011900
- PMCID: PMC4048329
- DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2013.08.004
Alcohol intake and brain structure in a multiethnic elderly cohort
Abstract
Background & aims: Evidence suggests that consuming light-to-moderate amounts of alcohol reduces the risk of dementia and is associated better cognitive function and less cardiovascular disease, relative to those consuming no or heavy alcohol. There are only minimal data on the association between alcohol and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers. This study aimed to examine the association between alcohol and brain structure measured with MRI.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, high-resolution structural MRI was collected on 589 multi-ethnic community residents of New York aged ≥65 with available alcohol intake assessments via a food frequency questionnaire. Total brain volume (TBV), white matter hyperintensity volume (WMHV), and presence of infarcts were derived from MRI scans with established methods. We examined the association of alcohol intake with these imaging markers using regression models adjusted for demographic, clinical, and vascular risk factors.
Results: Compared to non-drinking, light-to-moderate total alcohol (b = 0.007, p = 0.04) or wine (b = 0.008, p = 0.05) intake, but not beer or liquor intake, was associated with larger TBV. Further analysis showed a dose-response association between alcohol (p-trend = 0.03) or wine (p-trend = 0.006) and TBV. Overall, alcohol intake was not associated with WMHV or brain infarcts.
Conclusions: Our study suggests that among older adults in the community, light-to-moderate alcohol intake, in particular wine, is associated with larger TBV. These findings suggest that light to moderate alcohol consumption is potentially beneficial for brain aging, but replication is needed.
Keywords: Alcohol; Brain atrophy; Cerebrovascular disease; Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); Neuroepidemiology; Nutrition.
Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.
Conflict of interest statement
Similar articles
-
Assessment of Leisure Time Physical Activity and Brain Health in a Multiethnic Cohort of Older Adults.JAMA Netw Open. 2020 Nov 2;3(11):e2026506. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.26506. JAMA Netw Open. 2020. PMID: 33211111 Free PMC article.
-
Wine and beer within a moderate alcohol intake is associated with higher levels of HDL-c and adiponectin.Nutr Res. 2019 Mar;63:42-50. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2018.12.007. Epub 2018 Dec 19. Nutr Res. 2019. PMID: 30824396
-
Alcohol consumption and subclinical findings on magnetic resonance imaging of the brain in older adults: the cardiovascular health study.Stroke. 2001 Sep;32(9):1939-46. doi: 10.1161/hs0901.095723. Stroke. 2001. PMID: 11546878
-
Effects of moderate beer consumption on health and disease: A consensus document.Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2016 Jun;26(6):443-67. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2016.03.007. Epub 2016 Mar 31. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2016. PMID: 27118108 Review.
-
Relationship of Wine Consumption with Alzheimer's Disease.Nutrients. 2020 Jan 13;12(1):206. doi: 10.3390/nu12010206. Nutrients. 2020. PMID: 31941117 Free PMC article. Review.
Cited by
-
Combinatorial Preconditioning of Rat Brain Cultures with Subprotective Ethanol and Resveratrol Concentrations Promotes Synergistic Neuroprotection.Neurotox Res. 2018 Oct;34(3):749-756. doi: 10.1007/s12640-018-9886-2. Epub 2018 Mar 12. Neurotox Res. 2018. PMID: 29532445
-
Associations between modifiable lifestyle factors and multidimensional cognitive health among community-dwelling old adults: stratified by educational level.Int Psychogeriatr. 2018 Oct;30(10):1465-1476. doi: 10.1017/S1041610217003076. Epub 2018 Feb 15. Int Psychogeriatr. 2018. PMID: 29444740 Free PMC article.
-
Longitudinal alcohol-related brain changes in older adults: The Sydney Memory and Ageing Study.Addict Biol. 2024 May;29(5):e13402. doi: 10.1111/adb.13402. Addict Biol. 2024. PMID: 38797559 Free PMC article.
-
Cognitive decline and alcohol consumption in the aging population-A longitudinal analysis of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe.Eur Psychiatry. 2022 Nov 18;65(1):e83. doi: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.2344. Eur Psychiatry. 2022. PMID: 36398412 Free PMC article.
-
Potential neuroprotective effects of fermented foods and beverages in old age: a systematic review.Front Nutr. 2023 Jun 15;10:1170841. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1170841. eCollection 2023. Front Nutr. 2023. PMID: 37396132 Free PMC article.
References
-
- Luchsinger JA, Tang MX, Siddiqui M, Shea S, Mayeux R. Alcohol intake and risk of dementia. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2004;52:540–546. - PubMed
-
- Ruitenberg A, van Swieten JC, Witteman JC, Mehta KM, van Duijn CM, Hofman A, et al. Alcohol consumption and risk of dementia: the Rotterdam Study. Lancet. 2002;359:281–286. - PubMed
-
- Mukamal KJ, Kuller LH, Fitzpatrick AL, Longstreth WT, Jr, Mittleman MA, Siscovick DS. Prospective study of alcohol consumption and risk of dementia in older adults. JAMA. 2003;289:1405–1413. - PubMed
-
- Stampfer MJ, Kang JH, Chen J, Cherry R, Grodstein F. Effects of Moderate Alcohol Consumption on Cognitive Function in Women. N Engl J Med. 2005;352:245–253. - PubMed
-
- Reynolds K, Lewis LB, Nolen JDL, Kinney GL, Sathya B, He J. Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Stroke: A Meta-analysis. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2003;289:579–588. - PubMed
Publication types
MeSH terms
Grants and funding
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources
Medical