ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AND COGNITIVE AND FUNCTIONAL PERFORMANCE IN OLDER ADULTS AGED 75+ YEARS: THE PIETÀ STUDY

Abstract

Introduction: The relationship between alcohol and cognition is complex. Objective: To investigate the association of alcohol consumption with cognitive impairment, functionality, psychiatric and neurological diagnoses. Methods: Cross-sectional population-based study. 602 subjects 75+ years were categorized according to the number of drinks consumed per week: 0 (abstainers); 0.1 to 7 (light); 7.1 to 14 (moderate); > 14 (heavy). Cognitive diagnoses were established: dementia, cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND) and without cognitive impairment. Results: On multivariate analysis there was no association between cognitive profile and current or previous alcohol consumption. When previous alcohol consumption was treated as dichotomous variable, no association emerged with cognitive profile (p=0.109). As for current habit of alcohol intake treated as dichotomous variable, the absence of alcohol consumption was associated with dementia (OR=2.34; 95%CI: 1.39- 3.90), stroke (p=0.014), current major depression (p=0.013), parkinsonism (p=0.041) and worse functionality (p=0.001). Cachaça consumption was associated with dementia (OR=2.52; 95%CI: 1.25-5.04). Conclusion: Absence of current alcohol consumption was associated with diagnosis of dementia, stroke, major depression, parkinsonism and worse functionality. On the other hand, intake of cachaça was associated with dementia.