PURPOSE: Observational studies in Western settings show moderate alcohol use associated with better cognitive function, but they are vulnerable to contextual bias. Evidence from non-Western settings may be useful to verify causality. We examined such association in southern China where alcohol use is low. METHODS: We used multivariable linear regression in cross-sectional data from the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study to assess sex-stratified associations of alcohol use (never, occasional, moderate, heavy and former drinker) with delayed 10-word recall score for all 3 phases (N = 28,537) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score in phase 3 (N = 9,571). RESULTS: Delayed 10-word recall scores were higher in moderate drinkers compared with never drinkers among men (0.30 words, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.18 to 0.42) but not women (0.02; 95% CI: -0.12 to 0.17), adjusted for sociodemographic factors. Occasional alcohol users also had higher 10-word recall scores among men (0.27; 95% CI: 0.18 to 0.37) and women (0.30; 95% CI: 0.23 to 0.37). These estimates were little altered by further adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. Results for MMSE scores were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol may not drive the association between moderate use and better cognitive function, which instead may be due to confounding by general moderation in lifestyle.
PURPOSE: Observational studies in Western settings show moderate alcohol use associated with better cognitive function, but they are vulnerable to contextual bias. Evidence from non-Western settings may be useful to verify causality. We examined such association in southern China where alcohol use is low. METHODS: We used multivariable linear regression in cross-sectional data from the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study to assess sex-stratified associations of alcohol use (never, occasional, moderate, heavy and former drinker) with delayed 10-word recall score for all 3 phases (N = 28,537) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score in phase 3 (N = 9,571). RESULTS: Delayed 10-word recall scores were higher in moderate drinkers compared with never drinkers among men (0.30 words, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.18 to 0.42) but not women (0.02; 95% CI: -0.12 to 0.17), adjusted for sociodemographic factors. Occasional alcohol users also had higher 10-word recall scores among men (0.27; 95% CI: 0.18 to 0.37) and women (0.30; 95% CI: 0.23 to 0.37). These estimates were little altered by further adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. Results for MMSE scores were similar. CONCLUSIONS:Alcohol may not drive the association between moderate use and better cognitive function, which instead may be due to confounding by general moderation in lifestyle.
Authors: Benjamin J K Davis; Jean-Sebastian Vidal; Melissa Garcia; Thor Aspelund; Mark A van Buchem; Maria K Jonsdottir; Sigurdur Sigurdsson; Tamara B Harris; Vilmundur Gudnason; Lenore J Launer Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2014-07-02 Impact factor: 6.053
Authors: May A Beydoun; Alyssa A Gamaldo; Hind A Beydoun; Toshiko Tanaka; Katherine L Tucker; Sameera A Talegawkar; Luigi Ferrucci; Alan B Zonderman Journal: J Nutr Date: 2014-04-17 Impact factor: 4.798
Authors: May A Beydoun; Hind A Beydoun; Alyssa A Gamaldo; Alison Teel; Alan B Zonderman; Youfa Wang Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2014-06-24 Impact factor: 3.295