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Zahr NM. Alcohol Use Disorder and Dementia: A Review. Alcohol Res 2024; 44:03. [PMID: 38812709 PMCID: PMC11135165 DOI: 10.35946/arcr.v44.1.03] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE By 2040, 21.6% of Americans will be over age 65, and the population of those older than age 85 is estimated to reach 14.4 million. Although not causative, older age is a risk factor for dementia: every 5 years beyond age 65, the risk doubles; approximately one-third of those older than age 85 are diagnosed with dementia. As current alcohol consumption among older adults is significantly higher compared to previous generations, a pressing question is whether drinking alcohol increases the risk for Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia. SEARCH METHODS Databases explored included PubMed, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect. To accomplish this narrative review on the effects of alcohol consumption on dementia risk, the literature covered included clinical diagnoses, epidemiology, neuropsychology, postmortem pathology, neuroimaging and other biomarkers, and translational studies. Searches conducted between January 12 and August 1, 2023, included the following terms and combinations: "aging," "alcoholism," "alcohol use disorder (AUD)," "brain," "CNS," "dementia," "Wernicke," "Korsakoff," "Alzheimer," "vascular," "frontotemporal," "Lewy body," "clinical," "diagnosis," "epidemiology," "pathology," "autopsy," "postmortem," "histology," "cognitive," "motor," "neuropsychological," "magnetic resonance," "imaging," "PET," "ligand," "degeneration," "atrophy," "translational," "rodent," "rat," "mouse," "model," "amyloid," "neurofibrillary tangles," "α-synuclein," or "presenilin." When relevant, "species" (i.e., "humans" or "other animals") was selected as an additional filter. Review articles were avoided when possible. SEARCH RESULTS The two terms "alcoholism" and "aging" retrieved about 1,350 papers; adding phrases-for example, "postmortem" or "magnetic resonance"-limited the number to fewer than 100 papers. Using the traditional term, "alcoholism" with "dementia" resulted in 876 citations, but using the currently accepted term "alcohol use disorder (AUD)" with "dementia" produced only 87 papers. Similarly, whereas the terms "Alzheimer's" and "alcoholism" yielded 318 results, "Alzheimer's" and "alcohol use disorder (AUD)" returned only 40 citations. As pertinent postmortem pathology papers were published in the 1950s and recent animal models of Alzheimer's disease were created in the early 2000s, articles referenced span the years 1957 to 2024. In total, more than 5,000 articles were considered; about 400 are herein referenced. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Chronic alcohol misuse accelerates brain aging and contributes to cognitive impairments, including those in the mnemonic domain. The consensus among studies from multiple disciplines, however, is that alcohol misuse can increase the risk for dementia, but not necessarily Alzheimer's disease. Key issues to consider include the reversibility of brain damage following abstinence from chronic alcohol misuse compared to the degenerative and progressive course of Alzheimer's disease, and the characteristic presence of protein inclusions in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease, which are absent in the brains of those with AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie M Zahr
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California. Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, California
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Musich M, Costa AN, Salathe V, Miller MB, Curtis AF. Sex-Specific Contributions of Alcohol and Hypertension on Everyday Cognition in Middle-Aged and Older Adults. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2023; 32:1086-1095. [PMID: 37023399 DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2022.0462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Separate lines of research have linked hypertension and alcohol use disorder to cognition among adults. Despite known sex differences in both of these conditions, studies examining associations on cognition are limited. We aimed to determine whether hypertension impacts the relationship between alcohol use and everyday subjective cognition and whether sex moderates this relationship in middle-aged and older adults. Materials and Methods: Participants (N = 275) 50+ years of age, who reported drinking, completed surveys measuring alcohol use (Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test consumption items), self-reported history of hypertension, and everyday subjective cognition (Cognitive Failures Questionnaire [CFQ]). Regression was used to test a moderated moderation model examining independent and interactive roles of alcohol use, hypertension, and sex on cognition (CFQ scores: total, memory, distractibility, blunders, and names). Analyses controlled for age, years of education, race, body mass index, smoking status, depressive symptoms, global subjective sleep quality, number of prescription medication used, and number of comorbid medical conditions. Results: Sex moderated the interactive associations of hypertension and alcohol use frequency on CFQ-distractibility. Specifically, in women with hypertension, more alcohol use was associated with greater CFQ-distractibility (B = 0.96, SE = 0.34, p = 0.005). Discussion: Sex moderates the interactive association of hypertension and alcohol use on some aspects of subjective cognition in mid-to-late life. In women with hypertension, alcohol use may exacerbate problems with attentional control. Further exploration of sex- and or gender-specific mechanisms underlying these is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison Musich
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Amy N Costa
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Victoria Salathe
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Mary Beth Miller
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Ashley F Curtis
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri, USA
- College of Nursing, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
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Tian YM, Zhang WS, Jiang CQ, Zhu F, Jin YL, Zhu T, Cheng KK, Xu L. Association of alcohol use with memory decline in middle-aged and older Chinese: a longitudinal cohort study. BMC Psychiatry 2022; 22:673. [PMID: 36320000 PMCID: PMC9623936 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-022-04298-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies on associations of alcohol use with memory decline showed inconclusive results. We examined these associations using longitudinal data from the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study (GBCS) and explored whether these associations varied by sex and age group. METHODS Memory function was assessed by delayed 10-word recall test (DWRT) and immediate 10-word recall test (IWRT) at both baseline (2003-2008) and follow-up (2008-2012) examinations, expressed as the mean annual change and mean annual rate of change in scores. Memory cognitive impairment was defined by DWRT scores of less than 4. Multivariable linear regression models and restricted cubic spline were used for data analysis. RESULTS Of 14,827 participants without memory cognitive impairment at baseline, 90.2% were never or occasional drinkers, 5% moderate drinkers, 1.5% excessive drinkers, and 3.3% former drinkers. The mean (standard deviation) age was 60.6 (6.6) years old. During an average of 4.1 years follow-up, 1000 (6.7%) participants developed memory cognitive impairment. After adjusting for confounders, compared with never or occasional drinkers, moderate and excessive drinkers had significant decline in DWRT scores (β, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.04 (-0.08 to -0.01), and - 0.07 (-0.14 to 0.01), respectively), and IWRT scores (β, 95% CI = -0.10 (-0.19 to -0.01), and - 0.15 (-0.30 to 0.01), respectively) annually. With respect to the mean annual rate of change, moderate and excessive drinkers also showed greater decline in DWRT scores (β, 95% CI = -1.02% (-1.87% to -0.16%), and - 1.64% (-3.14% to -0.14%), respectively). The associations did not vary by sex and age group (all P values for interaction ≥ 0.10). CONCLUSION Compared to never or occasional alcohol use, moderate and excessive alcohol users had greater memory decline and the associations did not vary by sex and age group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Meng Tian
- grid.12981.330000 0001 2360 039XSchool of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, 74 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province China
| | - Wei Sen Zhang
- Guangzhou Twelfth People's Hospital, 510620, Guangzhou, China.
| | | | - Feng Zhu
- Guangzhou Twelfth People’s Hospital, 510620 Guangzhou, China
| | - Ya Li Jin
- Guangzhou Twelfth People’s Hospital, 510620 Guangzhou, China
| | - Tong Zhu
- Guangzhou Twelfth People’s Hospital, 510620 Guangzhou, China
| | - Kar Keung Cheng
- grid.6572.60000 0004 1936 7486Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Lin Xu
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, 74 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China. .,School of Public Health, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. .,Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
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Baiden P, Cassidy J, Panisch LS, LaBrenz CA, Onyeaka HK. Association of adverse childhood experiences with subjective cognitive decline in adulthood: Findings from a population-based study. Aging Ment Health 2022; 26:2214-2222. [PMID: 34957876 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2021.2017848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Adverse childhood experiences have been found to be associated with negative outcomes during adulthood. Emerging research indicates that adverse childhood experiences may elevate the risk for Alzheimer's disease. Yet, few studies have investigated the association between adverse childhood experiences and subjective cognitive decline among middle-aged and older adults in the United States. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between adverse childhood experiences and subjective cognitive decline among middle-aged and older adults in the United States. METHODS Data for this study were obtained from the 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey. An analytic sample of 50,277 adults aged 45 to 79 years (53.3% female) from 15 states was analyzed using binary logistic regression. The outcome variable investigated in this study was subjective cognitive decline, and the main explanatory variable was adverse childhood experiences. RESULTS Of the 50,277 respondents, 10.3% reported experiencing subjective cognitive decline during the past year, and 14.5% had four or more adverse childhood experiences. We found a dose-response association between adverse childhood experiences and subjective cognitive decline. Respondents who had four or more adverse childhood experiences had 2.98 times higher odds of having subjective cognitive decline when compared to respondents with no adverse childhood experiences (aOR = 2.98, 95% CI = 2.56-3.48). Other factors associated with subjective cognitive decline have been identified and discussed. CONCLUSION The findings of this study provide evidence indicating that early life factors may be linked with cognitive decline in later adulthood. The findings of this study are discussed with implications for practice and research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Baiden
- School of Social Work, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, USA
| | - Jessica Cassidy
- School of Social Work, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, USA
| | - Lisa S Panisch
- School of Social Work, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Catherine A LaBrenz
- School of Social Work, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, USA
| | - Henry K Onyeaka
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital/McLean Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Zijlmans JL, Lamballais S, Vernooij MW, Ikram MA, Luik AI. Sociodemographic, Lifestyle, Physical, and Psychosocial Determinants of Cognitive Reserve. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 85:701-713. [PMID: 34864674 PMCID: PMC8842775 DOI: 10.3233/jad-215122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive reserve aims to explain individual differences in the susceptibility to the functional impact of dementia in the presence of equal amount of neuropathological damage. It is thought to be shaped by a combination of innate individual differences and lifetime exposures. Which determinants are associated with cognitive reserve remains unknown. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to investigate the associations of sociodemographic, lifestyle, physical, and psychosocial determinants with cognitive reserve, and potential sex differences. METHODS This cross-sectional study included 4,309 participants from the Rotterdam Study (mean age 63.9±10.7) between 2006-2016. Participants completed five cognitive tests and a brain MRI-scan. Cognitive reserve was defined as a latent variable that captures variance common across five cognitive tests, while adjusting for demographic and MRI-inferred neuropathological factors. The associations of potential determinants and cognitive reserve, adjusted for relevant confounders, were assessed with structural equation models. RESULTS Current smoking (adjusted mean difference: -0.31, 95%confidence interval -0.42; -0.19), diabetes mellitus (-0.25, -0.40; -0.10) and depressive symptoms (-0.07/SD, -0.12; -0.03) were associated with a lower cognitive reserve whereas alcohol use (0.07/SD, 0.03; 0.12) was associated with higher cognitive reserve. Only smoking was associated with cognitive reserve in both men and women. Employment, alcohol use, diabetes, history of cancer, COPD, and depressive symptoms were only associated with cognitive reserve in women. CONCLUSION Our study found that current smoking, diabetes mellitus, and depressive symptoms were associated with a lower cognitive reserve, whereas more alcohol use was associated with a higher cognitive reserve, but with clear differences between men and women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jendé L Zijlmans
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sander Lamballais
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Meike W Vernooij
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.,Department of Radiology and nuclear medicine, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - M Arfan Ikram
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Annemarie I Luik
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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Masjoan Juncos JX, Shakil S, Ahmad A, Mariappan N, Zafar I, Bradley WE, Dell’Italia LJ, Ahmad A, Ahmad S. Sex differences in cardiopulmonary effects of acute bromine exposure. Toxicol Res (Camb) 2021; 10:1064-1073. [PMID: 34733491 PMCID: PMC8557644 DOI: 10.1093/toxres/tfab079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Accidental occupational bromine (Br>2>) exposures are common, leading to significant morbidity and mortality; however, the specific effects of Br>2> inhalation in female victims are unclear. Our studies demonstrated that acute high-concentration Br>2> inhalation is fatal, and cardiac injury and dysfunction play an important role in Br>2> toxicity in males. In this study, we exposed female Sprague Dawley rats, age-matched to those males from previously studied, to 600 ppm Br>2> for 45 min and assessed their survival, cardiopulmonary injury and cardiac function after exposure. Br>2> exposure caused serious mortality in female rats (59%) 48 h after exposure. Rats had severe clinical distress, reduced heart rates and oxygen saturation after Br>2> inhalation as was previously reported with male animals. There was significant lung injury and edema when measured 24 h after exposure. Cardiac injury biomarkers were also significantly elevated 24 h after Br>2> inhalation. Echocardiography and hemodynamic studies were also performed and revealed that the mean arterial pressure was not significantly elevated in females. Other functional cardiac parameters were also altered. Aside from the lack of elevation of blood pressure, all other changes observed in female animals were also present in male animals as reported in our previous study. These studies are important to understand the toxicity mechanisms to generate therapies and better-equip first responders to deal with these specific scenarios after bromine spill disasters.>.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Xavier Masjoan Juncos
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Shazia Shakil
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Aamir Ahmad
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Nithya Mariappan
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Iram Zafar
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Wayne E Bradley
- Division of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Louis J Dell’Italia
- Division of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Aftab Ahmad
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Shama Ahmad
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
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Seemiller LR, Gould TJ. Adult and adolescent C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice are differentially susceptible to fear learning deficits after acute ethanol or MK-801 treatment. Behav Brain Res 2021; 410:113351. [PMID: 33974921 PMCID: PMC8403488 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Ethanol and other drugs of abuse disrupt learning and memory processes, creating problems associated with drug use and addiction. Understanding individual factors that determine susceptibility to drug-induced cognitive deficits, such as genetic background, age, and sex, is important for prevention and treatment. Comparison of adolescent and adult mice of both sexes across inbred mouse strains can reveal age, sex, and genetic contributions to phenotypes. We treated adolescent and adult, male and female, C57BL/6J and DBA/2J inbred mice with ethanol (1 g/kg or 1.5 g/kg) or MK-801 (0.05 mg/kg or 0.1 mg/kg), an NMDA receptor antagonist, prior to fear conditioning training. Contextual and cued fear retention were tested one day and eight or nine days after training. After ethanol exposure, adult C57BL/6J mice experienced greater deficits in contextual learning than adult DBA/2J mice. C57BL/6 J adolescents were less susceptible to ethanol-induced contextual learning disruptions than C57BL/6J adults, and adolescent males of both strains exhibited greater ethanol-induced contextual learning deficits than adolescent females. After MK-801 exposure, adolescent C57BL/6J mice experienced more severe contextual learning deficits than adolescent DBA/2J mice. Both ethanol and MK-801 had greater effects on contextual learning than cued learning. Collectively, we demonstrate that genetic background contributes to contextual and cued learning outcomes after ethanol or MK-801 exposure. Further, we report age-dependent drug sensitivities that are strain-, sex-, and drug-specific, suggesting that age, sex, and genetic background interact to determine contextual and cued learning impairments after ethanol or MK-801 exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- L R Seemiller
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, Penn State University, 219 Biobehavioral Health Building, University Park, PA, 16801, United States
| | - T J Gould
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, Penn State University, 219 Biobehavioral Health Building, University Park, PA, 16801, United States.
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Lewis JP, Suchy-Dicey AM, Noonan C, Jernigan VBB, Umans JG, Domoto-Reilly K, Buchwald DS, Manson S. Associations of Binge Drinking With Vascular Brain Injury and Atrophy in Older American Indians: The Strong Heart Study. J Aging Health 2021; 33:51S-59S. [PMID: 34167344 PMCID: PMC8845484 DOI: 10.1177/08982643211013696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Objectives: American Indians (AIs) generally consume less alcohol than the US general population; however, the prevalence of alcohol use disorder is higher. This is the first large cohort study to examine binge drinking as a risk factor for vascular brain injury (VBI). Methods: We used linear and Poisson regression to examine the association of self-reported binge drinking with VBI, measured via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in 817 older AIs who participated in the Strong Heart and Cerebrovascular Disease and Its Consequences in American Indians studies. Results: Any binge drinking at multiple time-points was associated with increased sulcal (β = 0.360, 95% CI [0.079, 0.641]) and ventricle dilatation (β = 0.512, 95% CI [0.174, 0.850]) compared to no binge drinking. Discussion: These observed associations are consistent with previous findings. Identifying how binge drinking may contribute to VBI in older AIs may suggest modifiable health behaviors for neurological risk reduction and disease prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan P. Lewis
- University of Alaska Anchorage, WWAMI School of Medical Education, College of Health
| | - Astrid M Suchy-Dicey
- Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health, Washington State University,Elson S Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University
| | - Carolyn Noonan
- Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health, Washington State University,Elson S Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University
| | | | - Jason G. Umans
- MedStar Health Research Institute, Hyattsville, MD; Georgetown-Howard Universities Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Washington, DC
| | | | - Dedra S Buchwald
- Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health, Washington State University,Elson S Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University
| | - Spero Manson
- Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
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9
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Fama R, Le Berre AP, Sullivan EV. Alcohol's Unique Effects on Cognition in Women: A 2020 (Re)view to Envision Future Research and Treatment. Alcohol Res 2020; 40:03. [PMID: 32923307 PMCID: PMC7473713 DOI: 10.35946/arcr.v40.2.03] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol use and misuse is increasing among women. Although the prevalence of drinking remains higher in men than women, the gender gap is narrowing. This narrative review focuses on the cognitive sequelae of alcohol consumption in women. Studies of acute alcohol effects on cognition indicate that women typically perform worse than men on tasks requiring divided attention, memory, and decision-making. Beneficial effects of moderate alcohol consumption on cognition have been reported; however, a number of studies have cautioned that other factors may be driving that association. Although chronic heavy drinking affects working memory, visuospatial abilities, balance, emotional processing, and social cognition in women and men, sex differences mark the severity and specific profile of functional deficits. The accelerated or compressed progression of alcohol-related problems and their consequences observed in women relative to men, referred to as "telescoping," highlights sex differences in the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, cognitive, and psychological consequences of alcohol. Brain volume deficits affecting multiple systems, including frontolimbic and frontocerebellar networks, contribute to impairment. Taken together, sex-related differences highlight the complexity of this chronic disease in women and underscore the relevance of examining the roles of age, drinking patterns, duration of abstinence, medical history, and psychiatric comorbidities in defining and understanding alcohol-related cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosemary Fama
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
- Neuroscience Program, SRI International, Menlo Park, California
| | - Anne-Pascale Le Berre
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Edith V Sullivan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
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10
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Verplaetse TL, Cosgrove KP, Tanabe J, McKee SA. Sex/gender differences in brain function and structure in alcohol use: A narrative review of neuroimaging findings over the last 10 years. J Neurosci Res 2020; 99:309-323. [PMID: 32333417 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Over the last 10 years, rates of alcohol use disorder (AUD) have increased in women by 84% relative to a 35% increase in men. Rates of alcohol use and high-risk drinking have also increased in women by 16% and 58% relative to a 7% and 16% increase in men, respectively, over the last decade. This robust increase in drinking among women highlights the critical need to identify the underlying neural mechanisms that may contribute to problematic alcohol consumption across sex/gender (SG), especially given that many neuroimaging studies are underpowered to detect main or interactive effects of SG on imaging outcomes. This narrative review aims to explore the recent neuroimaging literature on SG differences in brain function and structure as it pertains to alcohol across positron emission tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and functional magnetic resonance imaging modalities in humans. Additional work using magnetic resonance spectroscopy, diffusion tensor imaging, and event-related potentials to examine SG differences in AUD will be covered. Overall, current research on the neuroimaging of AUD, alcohol consumption, or risk of AUD is limited, and findings are mixed regarding the effect of SG on neurochemical, structural, and functional mechanisms associated with AUD. We address SG disparities in the neuroimaging of AUD and propose a call to action to include women in brain imaging research. Future studies are crucial to our understanding of the neurobiological underpinnings of AUD across neural systems and the vulnerability for AUD among women and men.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kelly P Cosgrove
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, Yale PET Center, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jody Tanabe
- Department of Radiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Sherry A McKee
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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Brennan SE, McDonald S, Page MJ, Reid J, Ward S, Forbes AB, McKenzie JE. Long-term effects of alcohol consumption on cognitive function: a systematic review and dose-response analysis of evidence published between 2007 and 2018. Syst Rev 2020; 9:33. [PMID: 32054517 PMCID: PMC7020517 DOI: 10.1186/s13643-019-1220-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the long-term health effects of low to moderate alcohol consumption is important for establishing thresholds for minimising the lifetime risk of harm. Recent research has elucidated the dose-response relationship between alcohol and cardiovascular outcomes, showing an increased risk of harm at levels of intake previously thought to be protective. The primary objective of this review was to examine (1) whether there is a dose-response relationship between levels of alcohol consumption and long-term cognitive effects, and (2) what the effects are of different levels of consumption. METHODS The review was conducted according to a pre-specified protocol. Eligible studies were those published 2007 onwards that compared cognitive function among people with different levels of alcohol consumption (measured ≥ 6 months prior to first follow-up of cognition). Major cognitive impairment was excluded. Searches were limited to MEDLINE, Embase and PsycINFO (January 2007 to April 2018). Screening, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment (ROBINS-I) were piloted by three authors, then completed by a single author and checked by a second. Analyses were undertaken to identify and characterise dose-response relationships between levels of alcohol consumption and cognition. Certainty of evidence was assessed using GRADE. RESULTS We included 27 cohort studies (from 4786 citations). Eighteen studies examined the effects of alcohol consumption at different levels (risk of bias 16 serious, 2 critical). Ten studies provided data for dose-response analysis. The pooled dose-response relationship showed a maximum standardised mean difference (SMD) indicating slightly better cognition among women with moderate alcohol consumption compared to current non-drinkers (SMD 0.18, 95%CI 0.02 to 0.34, at 14.4 grams/day; 5 studies, very low certainty evidence), and a trivial difference for men (SMD 0.05, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.10, at 19.4 grams/day; 6 studies, very low certainty evidence). CONCLUSIONS Major limitations in the design and reporting of included studies made it impossible to discern if the effects of 'lower' levels of alcohol intake are due to bias. Further review of the evidence is unlikely to resolve this issue without meta-analysis of individual patient data from cohort studies that address biases in the selection of participants and classification of alcohol consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sue E. Brennan
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Steve McDonald
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Matthew J. Page
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jane Reid
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Stephanie Ward
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Andrew B. Forbes
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Joanne E. McKenzie
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
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Liu Y, Mitsuhashi T, Yamakawa M, Sasai M, Tsuda T, Doi H, Hamada J. Combined effects of body mass index and unhealthy behaviors on disability in older Japanese adults: the Okayama study. PeerJ 2019; 7:e8146. [PMID: 31803538 PMCID: PMC6886483 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 11/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Body mass index (BMI) is a significant predictor of functional disability in older adults. However, when evaluated, the association between BMI and incident functional disability, considering behaviors only as covariates or not, may not be appropriate. The primary purpose of the study was to investigate the combined effects of BMI and unhealthy behaviors on the risk of incident functional disability. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study that took place in Okayama City, Japan. Data on BMI and unhealthy behaviors were obtained using the health check-up questionnaire. The certification of Long-Term Care Insurance was used to measure functional disability. Cox proportional hazard models were used; adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated for incidence of functional disability across categories of BMI and number of unhealthy behaviors. Results The relationship between BMI and incident functional disability was U-shaped (HR = 1.18, 95% CI [1.11–1.25], among the underweight range; and 1.26 [1.19–1.34] among the obesity range), and its risk was significantly higher within the normal-to-overweight range of BMI values with co-occurring unhealthy behaviors (with normal weight range and one, 1.17 [1.01–1.21]; two, 1.29 [1.18–1.41]; and three or four unhealthy behaviors 1.38 [1.24–1.54]; as well as among overweight range and one, 1.16 [1.05–1.27]; two, 1.26 [1.15–1.38]; and three or four unhealthy behaviors, 1.47 [1.31–1.64]). In each BMI category, the risk of incident functional disability increased with increasing number of unhealthy behaviors (p < 0.05 for linear tread), with the highest risk (1.87 [1.58–2.20]) occurring in combination with at least three unhealthy behaviors with BMI ≥ 27.5, for both sexes (2.20 [1.64–2.92] in men and 1.66 [1.35–2.04] in women). Conclusion It is necessary to consider the combined effects of BMI and behaviors on incident functional disability. Furthermore, interventions targeting multiple behaviors should be considered as such interventions may offer greater benefits than simple interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangyang Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Toshiharu Mitsuhashi
- Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Michiyo Yamakawa
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Megumi Sasai
- Sri Lanka Office, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Toshihide Tsuda
- Department of Human Ecology, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Doi
- Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Jun Hamada
- Department of Health Economics and Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
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Nixon SJ, Lewis B. Clarifying the neurobehavioral sequelae of moderate drinking lifestyles and acute alcohol effects with aging. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2019; 148:39-78. [PMID: 31733667 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2019.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological estimates indicate not only an increase in the proportion of older adults, but also an increase in those who continue moderate alcohol consumption. Substantial literatures have attempted to characterize health benefits/risks of moderate drinking lifestyles. Not uncommonly, reports address outcomes in a single outcome, such as cardiovascular function or cognitive decline, rather than providing a broader overview of systems. In this narrative review, retaining focus on neurobiological considerations, we summarize key findings regarding moderate drinking and three health domains, cardiovascular health, Type 2 diabetes (T2D), and cognition. Interestingly, few investigators have studied bouts of low/moderate doses of alcohol consumption, a pattern consistent with moderate drinking lifestyles. Here, we address both moderate drinking as a lifestyle and as an acute event. Review of health-related correlates illustrates continuing inconsistencies. Although substantive reductions in risk for cardiovascular and T2D events are reported, robust conclusions remain elusive. Similarly, whereas moderate drinking is often associated with enhanced cognition and lower dementia risk, few benefits are noted in rates of decline or alterations in brain structure. The effect of sex/gender varies across health domains and by consumption levels. For example, women appear to differentially benefit from alcohol use in terms of T2D, but experience greater risk when considering aspects of cardiovascular function. Finally, we observe that socially relevant alcohol doses do not consistently impair performance in older adults. Rather, older drinkers demonstrate divergent, but not necessarily detrimental, patterns in neural activation and some behavioral measures relative to younger drinkers. Taken together, the epidemiological and laboratory studies reinforce the need for greater attention to key individual differences and for the conduct of systematic studies sensitive to age-related shifts in neurobiological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Jo Nixon
- University of Florida, Department of Psychiatry, Gainesville, FL, United States; University of Florida Center for Addiction Research & Education, Gainesville, FL, United States.
| | - Ben Lewis
- University of Florida, Department of Psychiatry, Gainesville, FL, United States; University of Florida Center for Addiction Research & Education, Gainesville, FL, United States
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Li J, Hui X, Gu Q, Lao Y, Lu Z, Hou L, Jia B, Niu J, Yao L, Yan P. Alcohol consumption and risk of dementia: A dose-response meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2019; 98:e16099. [PMID: 31261525 PMCID: PMC6617082 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000016099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between alcohol consumption and the incidence of dementia. METHOD We will conduct a systematic search without language and year restrictions to identify all relevant published studies. The following electronic databases will be searched: PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Chinese BioMedical Literature Database (CBM) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP, Wan-Fang. Cohort studies published in Chinese or English are considered for inclusion. Two authors will independently select studies base on inclusion criteria, extract data and assess the quality of included studies using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system will be used to quantify absolute effects and quality of evidence. Any disagreement will be resolved by consensus. We will use the hazard ratio (HR) as the effect indicator, piecewise linear regression model and restricted cubic spline model will be used for linear and nonlinear trend estimation, respectively. REGISTRATION The dose-response meta-analysis is registered in the PROSPERO (CRD42019127367) international prospective register of systematic review. DISCUSSION In the previous related dose-response meta-analysis studies, there were some limitations: on the 1 hand, the sex was not taken into account. On the other hand, relative risk (RR) is not the best effect indicator for time-to-event data, but compare with RR, HR is much better. This study intends to use HR as the effect indicator to explore the dose-response relationship and the sex difference between alcohol intake and dementia. Accurate alcohol drinking data can provide high-quality evidence for the prevention of dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Li
- School of Public Health, Lanzhou University
| | - Xu Hui
- School of Public Health, Lanzhou University
| | - Qinghong Gu
- Evidence-Based Medicine Center of Lanzhou University
| | - Yongfeng Lao
- Second Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University
| | - Zhenxing Lu
- First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University
| | - Lijuan Hou
- First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University
| | - Bibo Jia
- School of Public Health, Lanzhou University
| | - Junqiang Niu
- The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou
| | - Liang Yao
- Evidence-Based Medicine Center of Lanzhou University
- Chinese Medicine Faculty of Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
| | - Peijing Yan
- Institute of Clinical Research and Evidence Based Medicine, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, China
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15
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Lewis B, Garcia CC, Nixon SJ. Drinking patterns and adherence to "low-risk" guidelines among community-residing older adults. Drug Alcohol Depend 2018; 187:285-291. [PMID: 29698895 PMCID: PMC6324529 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.02.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Revised: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Older adults constitute a rapidly expanding proportion of the U.S. POPULATION Contemporary studies note the increasing prevalence of alcohol consumption in this group. Thus, understanding alcohol effects, consumption patterns, and associated risks in aging populations constitute critical areas of study with increasing public health relevance. METHODS Participants (n = 643; 292 women; ages 21-70) were community residing adult volunteers. Primary measures of interest included four patterns of alcohol consumption (average [oz./day]; typical quantity [oz./occasion]; frequency [% drinking days]; and maximal quantity [oz.]). Regression analyses explored associations between these measures, age, and relevant covariates. Subsequent between-group analyses investigated differences between two groups of older adults and a comparator group of younger adults, their adherance to "low-risk" guidelines, and whether alcohol-associated risks differed by age and adherence pattern. RESULTS Average consumption did not vary by age or differ between age groups. In contrast, markedly higher frequencies and lower quantities of consumption were observed with increasing age. These differences persisted across adherence categories and were evident even in the oldest age group. Exceeding "low-risk" guidelines was associated with greater risk for alcohol-related problems among the older groups. CONCLUSIONS These results emphasize the utility of considering underlying constituent patterns of consumption in older drinkers. Findings highlight difficulties in identifying problem drinking among older adults and contribute to the few characterizations of "risky" drinking patterns in this group. Taken together, our data contribute to literatures of import for the design and enhancement of screening, prevention, and education initiatives directed toward aging adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Lewis
- University of Florida, Department of Psychiatry, PO Box 100256, 1149 Newell Dr., L4-100 Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
| | - Christian C Garcia
- University of Florida, Department of Psychiatry, PO Box 100256, 1149 Newell Dr., L4-100 Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Sara Jo Nixon
- University of Florida, Department of Psychiatry, PO Box 100256, 1149 Newell Dr., L4-100 Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
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