Citation

Woods AJ, Porges EC, Bryant VE, Seider T, Gongvatana A, Kahler CW, de la Monte S, Monti PM, Cohen RA. Alcohol Clin. Exp. Res. 2016; 40(11): 2435-2444.

Affiliation

Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory (CAM), Institute on Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/acer.13211

PMID

27658235

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The acute consumption of excessive quantities of alcohol causes well-recognized neurophysiological and cognitive alterations. As people reach advanced age, they are more prone to cognitive decline. To date, the interaction of current heavy alcohol (ethanol [EtOH]) consumption and aging remains unclear. This study tested the hypothesis that negative consequences of current heavy alcohol consumption on neurocognitive function are worse with advanced age. Further, we evaluated the relations between lifetime history of alcohol dependence and neurocognitive function METHODS: Sixty-six participants underwent a comprehensive neurocognitive battery. Current heavy EtOH drinkers were classified using National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism criteria (EtOH heavy, n = 21) based on the Timeline follow-back and a structured clinical interview and compared to nondrinkers, and moderate drinkers (EtOH low, n = 45). Of the total population, 53.3% had a lifetime history of alcohol dependence. Neurocognitive data were grouped and analyzed relative to global and domain scores assessing: global cognitive function, attention/executive function, learning, memory, motor function, verbal function, and speed of processing.

RESULTS: Heavy current EtOH consumption in older adults was associated with poorer global cognitive function, learning, memory, and motor function (ps < 0.05). Furthermore, lifetime history of alcohol dependence was associated with poorer function in the same neurocognitive domains, in addition to the attention/executive domain, irrespective of age (ps < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that while heavy current alcohol consumption is associated with significant impairment in a number of neurocognitive domains, history of alcohol dependence, even in the absence of heavy current alcohol use, is associated with lasting negative consequences for neurocognitive function.

Copyright © 2016 by the Research Society on Alcoholism.

Language: en