Cognitive decline and alcohol consumption in the aging population—A longitudinal analysis of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe
Abstract Background Prevalence of cognitive decline and dementia is rising globally, with more than 10 million new cases every year. These conditions cause a significant burden for individuals, their caregivers, and health care systems. As no causal treatment for dementia exists, prevention of cogni...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2022-01-01
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| Series: | European Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822023446/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1811156316049113088 |
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| author | Stephan Listabarth Magdalena Groemer Thomas Waldhoer Benjamin Vyssoki Nathalie Pruckner Sandra Vyssoki Alexander Glahn Deirdre Maria König-Castillo Daniel König |
| author_facet | Stephan Listabarth Magdalena Groemer Thomas Waldhoer Benjamin Vyssoki Nathalie Pruckner Sandra Vyssoki Alexander Glahn Deirdre Maria König-Castillo Daniel König |
| author_sort | Stephan Listabarth |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract
Background
Prevalence of cognitive decline and dementia is rising globally, with more than 10 million new cases every year. These conditions cause a significant burden for individuals, their caregivers, and health care systems. As no causal treatment for dementia exists, prevention of cognitive decline is of utmost importance. Notably, alcohol is among the most significant modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline.
Methods
Longitudinal data across 15 years on 6,967 individuals of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe were used to analyze the effect of alcohol consumption and further modifiable (i.e., smoking, depression, and educational obtainment) and non-modifiable risk factors (sex and age) on cognitive functioning (i.e., memory and verbal fluency). For this, a generalized estimating equation linear model was estimated for every cognitive test domain assessed.
Results
Consistent results were revealed in all three regression models: A nonlinear association between alcohol consumption and cognitive decline was found—moderate alcohol intake was associated with overall better global cognitive function than low or elevated alcohol consumption or complete abstinence. Furthermore, female sex and higher educational obtainment were associated with better cognitive function, whereas higher age and depression were associated with a decline in cognitive functioning. No significant association was found for smoking.
Conclusion
Our data indicate that alcohol use is a relevant risk factor for cognitive decline in older adults. Furthermore, evidence-based therapeutic concepts to reduce alcohol consumption exist and should be of primary interest in prevention measures considering the aging European population.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:49:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-97b63f732d134727949ef7d4297afdc0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0924-9338 1778-3585 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:49:31Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-97b63f732d134727949ef7d4297afdc02023-03-09T12:33:56ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852022-01-016510.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.2344Cognitive decline and alcohol consumption in the aging population—A longitudinal analysis of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in EuropeStephan Listabarth0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0466-0420Magdalena Groemer1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3703-0399Thomas Waldhoer2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2043-8299Benjamin Vyssoki3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1195-630XNathalie Pruckner4https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8876-546XSandra Vyssoki5Alexander Glahn6Deirdre Maria König-Castillo7https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0988-4362Daniel König8https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5741-834XClinical Division of Social Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaClinical Division of Social Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Epidemiology, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaClinical Division of Social Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaClinical Division of Social Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Health Sciences, St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences, Sankt Pölten, AustriaDepartment for Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Hannover, Hannover, GermanyDepartment of Urology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaClinical Division of Social Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaAbstract Background Prevalence of cognitive decline and dementia is rising globally, with more than 10 million new cases every year. These conditions cause a significant burden for individuals, their caregivers, and health care systems. As no causal treatment for dementia exists, prevention of cognitive decline is of utmost importance. Notably, alcohol is among the most significant modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline. Methods Longitudinal data across 15 years on 6,967 individuals of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe were used to analyze the effect of alcohol consumption and further modifiable (i.e., smoking, depression, and educational obtainment) and non-modifiable risk factors (sex and age) on cognitive functioning (i.e., memory and verbal fluency). For this, a generalized estimating equation linear model was estimated for every cognitive test domain assessed. Results Consistent results were revealed in all three regression models: A nonlinear association between alcohol consumption and cognitive decline was found—moderate alcohol intake was associated with overall better global cognitive function than low or elevated alcohol consumption or complete abstinence. Furthermore, female sex and higher educational obtainment were associated with better cognitive function, whereas higher age and depression were associated with a decline in cognitive functioning. No significant association was found for smoking. Conclusion Our data indicate that alcohol use is a relevant risk factor for cognitive decline in older adults. Furthermore, evidence-based therapeutic concepts to reduce alcohol consumption exist and should be of primary interest in prevention measures considering the aging European population. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822023446/type/journal_articleAgedalcohol use disorderdementiaepidemiologymild cognitive impairment |
| spellingShingle | Stephan Listabarth Magdalena Groemer Thomas Waldhoer Benjamin Vyssoki Nathalie Pruckner Sandra Vyssoki Alexander Glahn Deirdre Maria König-Castillo Daniel König Cognitive decline and alcohol consumption in the aging population—A longitudinal analysis of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe European Psychiatry Aged alcohol use disorder dementia epidemiology mild cognitive impairment |
| title | Cognitive decline and alcohol consumption in the aging population—A longitudinal analysis of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe |
| title_full | Cognitive decline and alcohol consumption in the aging population—A longitudinal analysis of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe |
| title_fullStr | Cognitive decline and alcohol consumption in the aging population—A longitudinal analysis of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cognitive decline and alcohol consumption in the aging population—A longitudinal analysis of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe |
| title_short | Cognitive decline and alcohol consumption in the aging population—A longitudinal analysis of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe |
| title_sort | cognitive decline and alcohol consumption in the aging population a longitudinal analysis of the survey of health ageing and retirement in europe |
| topic | Aged alcohol use disorder dementia epidemiology mild cognitive impairment |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822023446/type/journal_article |
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