Alcohol may reduce Alzheimers Risk

31 Jul 09, 12:00 a.m. | Comments (0)

The observational study from Wake Forest University School of Medicine, while not causal, does show that in cognitively normal older adults, a moderate alcohol intake might help prevent dementia. However, once cognitive decline has set in, heavy drinkers are twice as likely to progress to dementia over six years compared to non drinkers.

The study grouped 3069 subjects 75 years and older:
Abstainers (40%)                                                              Highest risk
Light drinkers (40% at 1 to 7 drinks per week)             Moderate risk
Moderate drinkers (10% at 8 to 14 drinks per week)   Lowest risk
Heavy drinkers (10% at more than 14 per week)         Moderate risk

If cognitive decline has started any alcohol consumption increases progress and especially if a heavy drinker. Clearly this indicates that those with some cognitive impairment should avoid alchol.

While there are clearly many risks to alcohol consumption the study again links alcohol to some protection against cardiovascular disease (boosting the HDL (good cholesterol) and inhibiting clotting) and that it may stimulate acetylcholine release (supporting memory) at low doses.

Comment: This is just one more link to reassure normal, healthy individuals that light to moderate drinking (1 to 15 drinks per week) is not necessarily dangerous and may have some small protective effects - in this case against the cognitive decline (memory and attention) that occurs with Alzheimers and other forms of dementia.

One must remember, in light of the enormous cost of alcohol abuse to individual health and resileince, family, community, workplace and justice systems, that alcohol has enormous risks for those who choose to abuse it or who are unable to moderate its addictive effects. Alcohol is a depressent of the higher brain functions that support Resilience and the capacity to bounce back. Enjoy with wisdom and caution.

By Sven Hansen in Health and Brain science

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