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Review
. 2021 Feb;121(1):1-10.
doi: 10.1007/s13760-020-01515-y. Epub 2020 Oct 14.

Categorising a problem: alcohol and dementia

Gabriele Cipriani  1   2 , Angelo Nuti  3 , Cecilia Carlesi  3 , Claudio Lucetti  3 , Mario Di Fiorino  4 , Sabrina Danti  5
Affiliations
Review

Categorising a problem: alcohol and dementia

Gabriele Cipriani et al. Acta Neurol Belg. 2021 Feb.

Abstract

Alcoholism is a chronic relapsing disorder that can include extended periods of abstinence followed by relapse to heavy drinking. Decades of evidence have clearly shown that long-term, chronic ethanol exposure produces brain damage in humans. The article aims to review the relationship between alcohol use and dementia. Medline and Google Scholar searches were conducted for relevant articles, chapters and books published until 2019. Search terms used included alcohol consumption, alcohol-related dementia, alcohol use disorders, chronic alcoholism, dementia. Publications found through this indexed search were reviewed for further relevant references. Alcohol acts on the central nervous system via both direct and indirect effects, frequently a combination of the two. There is consensus that alcohol contributes to the acquisition of cognitive deficits in late life. However, there are doubts regarding the aetiopathogenesis, nosological status and prevalence of alcohol-related dementia and still, there is much debate over how much alcohol consumption will lead to alcohol-related dementia.

Keywords: Alcohol consumption; Alcohol use disorders; Alcohol-related dementia; Chronic alcoholism; Dementia.

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References

    1. Cipriani G, Danti S, Picchi L, Nuti A, Fiorino M (2020) Daily functioning and dementia Dement. Neuropsychol 14(2):93–102
    1. Cipriani G, Borin G (2025) Understanding dementia in the sociocultural context: a review. Int J Soc Psychiatry 61(2):198–204
    1. Cipriani G, Abdel-Gawad N, Danti S, Di Fiorino M (2018) A contagious disorder: folie à deux and dementia. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen 33(7):415–422 - PubMed
    1. Cipriani G, Di Fiorino M (2025) Delusion of pregnancy: an unusual symptom in the context of dementia. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen 30(4):341–345
    1. Cipriani G, Nuti A, Danti S, Picchi L, Di Fiorino M (2019) 'I am dead': cotard syndrome and dementia. Int J Psychiatry ClinPract 8:1–8

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