Drinking Alcohol in Midlife Associated with Higher Cognitive Scores Later in Life

A 13 year study of middle-aged French adults found that drinking alcohol was associated with higher cognitive function later in life.

A total of 3,088 adults completed repeated 24 hour dietary records collected in 1994 through 1996. Their congnitive performance was evaluated in 2007-2009 with six neuropsychological tests. Among women, drinkers had significantly highly cognitive scores than did non-drinkers. Among men, those who consumed over three drinks per day had significantly higher scores than those who consumed one to three drinks per day. Only above a consumption lever of over eight drinks per day did cognitive scores begin to decline.

These associations remained significant after diet, comorbidities and sociodemographic factors were controlled or adjusted.