Abstract
Background and aimsConsensus is lacking on whether light to moderate consumption of alcohol compared to abstinence is neuroprotective. In this study, we investigated the relationship between self-reported alcohol use and brain volume change over 2 years in middle-aged subjects.MethodsA sample of 162 subjects (aged 40–59 at baseline) from the PREVENT-Dementia programme underwent MRI scans on two separate occasions (mean interval 734 days; SD 42 days). We measured longitudinal rates of brain atrophy using the FSL Siena toolbox, and change in hippocampal volume from segmentation in SPM.ResultsControlling for age and sex, there were no significant associations of either total brain, ventricular, or hippocampal volume change with alcohol consumption. Adjusting for lifestyle, demographic and vascular risk factors did not alter this.ConclusionsWe did not find any evidence of influence of alcohol consumption on changes in brain volume over a 2-year period in 40–60-year-olds.
Highlights
IntroductionHigh consumption of alcohol has consistently been linked with dementia and brain degeneration; several, but not all, studies have suggested that moderate consumption vs abstinence is a protective factor against dementia [1, 2]
High consumption of alcohol has consistently been linked with dementia and brain degeneration; several, but not all, studies have suggested that moderate consumption vs. abstinence is a protective factor against dementia [1, 2].Edinburgh, UK 5 The Centre for Psychiatry, Imperial College London, 7th floor Commonwealth Building, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK 6 Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0SP, UKSome studies of the association of alcohol consumption with brain volume have found protective effects of light to moderate drinking [3], whilst others have found that brain volume tends to linearly decrease with increased alcohol intake [4]
We investigated whole brain and ventricular volume as well as hippocampal volume, due to its association with both alcohol dependence and dementia
Summary
High consumption of alcohol has consistently been linked with dementia and brain degeneration; several, but not all, studies have suggested that moderate consumption vs abstinence is a protective factor against dementia [1, 2]. A systematic review concluded that hippocampal volume was reduced in those with problematic alcohol use [7] All these studies used cross-sectional imaging data, and are not sensitive to any ongoing neurodegeneration. We investigated whole brain and ventricular volume as well as hippocampal volume, due to its association with both alcohol dependence and dementia. We investigated the relationship between self-reported alcohol use and brain volume change over 2 years in middle-aged subjects. Results Controlling for age and sex, there were no significant associations of either total brain, ventricular, or hippocampal volume change with alcohol consumption. Conclusions We did not find any evidence of influence of alcohol consumption on changes in brain volume over a 2-year period in 40–60-year-olds
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