Moderate alcohol consumption as risk factor for adverse brain outcomes and cognitive decline: longitudinal cohort study -

Moderate alcohol consumption as risk factor for adverse brain outcomes and cognitive decline: longitudinal cohort study
Information type: Other primary research
Source: British Medical Journal
Specialities: Mental health and illness | Neurological disorders
Summary
Higher alcohol consumption over 30 year follow-up was associated with increased odds of hippocampal atrophy vs abstainers in 550 men and women, mean age 43 years at baseline. (30 units/week, OR 5.8; 14-21 units/weeks, 3.4) with no protective effect with 1-7units/week.
UKMi comment
Compared with abstainers, those consuming over 30 units a week were at the highest risk compared with abstainers (odds ratio 5.8, 95% confidence interval 1.8 to 18.6; P≤0.001), and those drinking moderately (14-21 units/week) had three times the odds of right sided hippocampal atrophy (3.4, 1.4 to 8.1; P=0.007). There was no protective effect of light drinking (1-<7 units/week) over abstinence.

The authors note that these results support the recent reduction in alcohol guidance in the UK and a related editorial discusses these findings in relation to public health.
Related links: Editorial