Original Paper

Reported Alcohol Consumption and Cognitive Decline: The Northern Manhattan Study
Clinton B. Wright^a, Mitchell S.V. Elkind^a, Xiaodong Luo^b, Myunghee C. Paik^b, Ralph L. Sacco<sup>a, c

a</sup>Division of Stroke and Critical Care, Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, and Departments of
^bBiostatistics and
^cEpidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, N.Y., USA

Address of Corresponding Author

Neuroepidemiology 2006;27:201-207 (DOI: 10.1159/000096300)

  Key Words

• Alcohol drinking
• Cognition disorders
• Apolipoprotein E4

  Abstract

Background: Moderate alcohol intake may slow cognitive decline, and both vascular and neurodegenerative mechanisms have been implicated. Methods: We examined reported alcohol intake and cognitive decline in a community-based cohort of Hispanic, black and white individuals (n = 1,428). The role of the apolipoprotein E 4 (APOE4) allele as a modifier was also studied. Results and Conclusions: Reported drinking was as follows: 300 participants (21%) were 'never' drinkers, 622 (44%) 'past' drinkers, 145 (10%) reported taking less than 1 drink weekly, 330 (23%) 1 drink weekly up to 2 daily and 31 (2%) more than 2 drinks daily. A positive relationship was seen between reported alcohol intake and cognition. Drinking less than 1 drink a week (p = 0.09), between 1 drink weekly up to 2 drinks daily (p = 0.001) and more than 2 drinks daily (p = 0.003) were associated with less cognitive decline on the modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status compared to never drinkers. This dose-response relationship was not modified by the presence of an APOE4 allele in a subsample.

Copyright © 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Clinton Wright, MD, MS
Division of Stroke and Critical Care
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University
NI-Room 640, 710 W 168th Street, New York, NY 10032 (USA)
Tel. +1 212 305 1710, Fax +1 212 305 1658, E-Mail cbw7@columbia.edu

  Article Information

Published online: October 16, 2006
Number of Print Pages : 7
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 41