The risk of cognitive impairment (CI) has again been found higher among those who drink less alcohol.

Study

This study followed 1,309 women age 65 or older. It did this for twenty years. Alcohol drinking was assessed regularly for 16 years. At the end of 20 years, CI, including dementia, was measured.

Some women cut their drinking by one-half drink or more per week. They increased their risk of CI or dementia by 34.5%. The study adjusted for age, education, diabetes, smoking, weigh, and physical activity. It had little impact on the results.

Cognitive Impairment

Cognitive impairment exists when people have problems with their thinking skills. It might be loss of higher reasoning. Forgetfulness. They find it hard to find keys, purses, etc. Or problems learning. It might be problem concentrating. Or it might be other problems in mental functions.

CI can progress to dementia. This is a general term for a major decline in mental ability. It’s severe enough to interfere with daily life. People with dementia may have many cognitive problems. They have problems with short-term memory.  But it’s more than that.

They also have a hard time planning and organizing. It is hard to plan a meal and prepare it. Completing ordinary tasks becomes hard. They may get lost going to the store. Even at home. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia.

Reduce Risk of Cognitive Impairment

Some factors that increase the risk of CI, such as age and genetics, can’t be changed. But lifestyle choices can improve brain health.

The risk of cognitive impairment can be reduced in a number of ways.

• • Exercise regularly.
  • Maintain good overall physical health.
  • Eat nutritional food.
  • Keep your mind active and challenged.
  • Interact with other people.

The Alzheimer’s Association recommends the Mediterranean diet. It reduce the risk of cognitive impairment. That diet consists of these.

• • Eating more fruit, vegetables, nuts and grains.
  • Replacing butter with healthful fats such olive oil.
  • Limiting red meat.
  • Replacing salt when possible with herbs to flavor food.
  • Eating fish and poultry at least twice a week.
  • Regularly drinking alcohol in moderation. Beer, wine or spirits (liquor).

The Alzheimer’s Association’s recommendation is simple. “Keep your heart healthy to help keep your brain healthy. Growing evidence suggests that many factors that increase the risk of heart disease also may increase the risk of dementia. These factors include smoking, obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.'”¹

In short, there are many things that can reduce the risk of CI.

Alcohol and Risk of Cognitive Impairment

Resources

Web

• • Drinking and Dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Memory Loss. (Review)
  • Drinking Lowers Dementia Risk nearly 40%
  • Alcohol and Dementia Risk.
  • Alcohol and Dementia Risk among Older People
  • Drinking Alcohol is Good for the Brain.
  • Alcohol and Risk of Dementia.
  • Should Older People Drink Less or More Alcohol?
  • Drinking and Women’s Health.
  • Mild CI.

Popular Books

• • Carper, J. 100 Simple Things You Can Do to Prevent Alzheimer’s.
  • Fife, B. Stop Alzheimer’s Now!
  • Hardman, L. Dementia.
  • Levine, R. Defying Dementia.
  • Thompson, R. and Pulsford, D. Dementia – Support for Family and Friends.
  • Whalley, L. Understanding Brain Aging.

Readings (Scientific)

• • Funk-White, M. et al. Alcohol use and cognitive performance.
  • Hoang, T., et al. Alcohol consumption patterns and cognitive impairment.
  • Shen, Y. et al. Association of Low to Moderate Alcohol Drinking With Cognitive Functions.
  • Zhang, Y. et al. Association between alcohol consumption in midlife and cognitive function in old age.

Endnote

• • 1 Causes and Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s Disease.

Dementia Groups

• • Alzheimer’s Assn.

Note

• • This website gives no advice about alcohol and risk cognitive impairment. For that, please see your doctor.