Non drinkers and frequent drinkers at higher risk of cognitive impairment during old age

Main Category: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
Article Date: 04 Sep 2004 - 20:00 PDT

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Middle aged people who drink several times a month and non-drinkers are twice as likely to have "mild cognitive impairment" in old age as are those who drink less than once a month, according to a new British study.

Frequent alcohol drinking in midlife is linked to mild mental (cognitive) impairment in old age, claims a study in this week's BMJ.

The risk of dementia is also higher with heavier drinking, but only among those carrying a particular gene (apolipoprotein e4 allele) a known genetic risk factor for dementia, says the report published this week in BMJ.

The study involved 1,018 men and women aged 65-79 years whose physical and mental health was monitored for an average of 23 years. Alcohol consumption was recorded and blood samples were taken to determine apolipoprotein E genotypes.

Participants who drank no alcohol and those who drank alcohol frequently (several times a month) were both twice as likely to have mild cognitive impairment in old age than those who drank infrequently (less than once a month).

CONTINUES..........www.seniorjournal.com