In this study, we examined the effect of alcohol consumption on cognitive function in three terms: 1) alcohol intake as a time-varying factor; 2) alcohol consumption categories by type of alcoholic beverage; 3) alcohol intake in middle-aged years.
The study population consisted of 2,365 participants who took Exams 17-23 in the Framingham Heart Study during 1981-1996 and had complete data on alcohol use. Marginal and standard logistic regression analysis were applied. All analyses were done to men and women separately.
After the follow-up period (mean =40 years), 530 individuals (191 men, 339 women) were assessed as dementia possible or present. The results showed that moderate and heavy drinking were significantly associated with a lower risk of dementia regardless gender. None beverage types showed a significant relation with dementia for men, whereas wine and liquor was significantly associated with a lower risk of dementia for women. The significance and/or magnitude of the effect of alcohol on cognitive function may vary by gender and by beverage type. The early alcohol intake in middle-aged years seemed not significantly associated with cognitive performance.
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