History of drinking problems diminishes the protective effects of within-guideline drinking on 18-year risk of dementia and CIND

• Published in: BMC public health 2021-12, Vol.21 (1), p.2319-2319, Article 2319
• Main Authors: Brennan, Penny L, Holahan, Charles J, Moos, Rudolf H, Schutte, Kathleen K
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adults; Age; Aged; Alcohol consumption; Alcohol Drinking - epidemiology; Alcohol Drinking - prevention & control; Alcohol Drinking - psychology; Alcohol use; Alcoholism - epidemiology; Alcoholism - prevention & control; Alcoholism - psychology; Alzheimer's disease; CIND; Cognition disorders in old age; Cognitive ability; Cognitive Dysfunction; Cohort Studies; Dementia; Dementia - epidemiology; Dementia - prevention & control; Dementia disorders; Demographic aspects; Drinking; Drinking behavior; Drinking of alcoholic beverages; Drinking problems; Family income; Health aspects; Humans; Older adults; Older people; Psychological aspects; Public health; Retirement; Risk; Risk factors; Standard scores
• ISSN: 1471-2458; 1471-2458
• DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-12358-4

To examine the moderating effect of older adults' history of drinking problems on the relationship between their baseline alcohol consumption and risk of dementia and cognitive impairment, no dementia (CIND) 18 years later. A longitudinal Health and Retirement Study cohort (n = 4421) was analyzed to demonstrate how older adults' baseline membership in one of six drinking categories (non-drinker, within-guideline drinker, and outside-guideline drinker groups, divided to reflect absence or presence of a history of drinking problems) predicts dementia and CIND 18 years later. Among participants with no history of drinking problems, 13% of non-drinkers, 5% of within-guideline drinkers, and 9% of outside-guideline drinkers were classified as having dementia 18-years later. Among those with a history of drinking problems, 14% of non-drinkers, 9% of within-guideline drinkers, and 7% of outside-guideline drinkers were classified with dementia. With Non-Drinker, No HDP as reference category, being a baseline within-guideline drinker with no history of drinking problems reduced the likelihood of dementia 18 years later by 45%, independent of baseline demographic and health characteristics; being a baseline within-guideline drinker with a history of drinking problems reduced the likelihood by only 13% (n.s.). Similar patterns obtained for the prediction of CIND. For older adults, consuming alcohol at levels within validated guidelines for low-risk drinking may offer moderate long-term protection from dementia and CIND, but this effect is diminished by having a history of drinking problems. Efforts to predict and prevent dementia and CIND should focus on older adults' history of drinking problems in addition to how much alcohol they consume.