“Ni tanto que queme al santo, ni tan poco que no lo alumbre”

Drinking Too Much or No Alcohol Linked to Elevated Dementia Risk

By Kelly Young

Edited by Susan Sadoughi, MD, and Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, DFASAM

Both alcohol abstinence and heavier drinking in midlife are associated with increased risk for dementia, according to a long-term study in The BMJ.

Researchers assessed alcohol use periodically in midlife among 9000 adults in the U.K. Roughly 4% were diagnosed with dementia during 23 years' follow-up.

After multivariable adjustment, abstinence was associated with increased risk for dementia, compared with drinking 1–14 units weekly (hazard ratio, 1.5). In addition, drinking more than 14 units per week was associated with increased risk in a linear fashion, with a 17% greater risk for each additional 7 units consumed. Participants who screened positive for an alcohol use disorder had twice the dementia risk as those who screened negative.

An editorialist concludes: "Alcohol consumption of 1–14 units/week may benefit brain health; however, alcohol choices must take into account all associated risks, including liver disease and cancer."

The BMJ article (Free abstract)

The BMJ editorial (Subscription required)

Benjamin Hidalgo-Matlock

Skin Care Physicians of Costa Rica

4000-1054

2101-9574

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