Moderate Alcohol Use and Cognitive Function in the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study

Purpose

Observational studies in Western settings show moderate alcohol use associated with better cognitive function, but they are vulnerable to contextual bias. Evidence from non-Western settings may be useful to verify causality. We examined such association in southern China where alcohol use is low.

Methods

We used multivariable linear regression in cross-sectional data from the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study to assess sex-stratified associations of alcohol use (never, occasional, moderate, heavy and former drinker) with delayed 10-word recall score for all 3 phases (N = 28,537) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score in phase 3 (N = 9,571).

Results

Delayed 10-word recall scores were higher in moderate drinkers compared with never drinkers among men (0.30 words, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.18 to 0.42) but not women (0.02; 95% CI: –0.12 to 0.17), adjusted for sociodemographic factors. Occasional alcohol users also had higher 10-word recall scores among men (0.27; 95% CI: 0.18 to 0.37) and women (0.30; 95% CI: 0.23 to 0.37). These estimates were little altered by further adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. Results for MMSE scores were similar.

Conclusions

Alcohol may not drive the association between moderate use and better cognitive function, which instead may be due to confounding by general moderation in lifestyle.

Key Words: Alcohol, Chinese, Cognition

Selected Abbreviations and Acronyms: MMSE, Mini Mental State Examination, CI, confidence interval, IPAQ, international physical activity questionnaire, HEPA, health-enhancing physical activity, MET, metabolic equivalent, SBP, systolic blood pressure, DBP, diastolic blood pressure, TG, triglycerides, FBG, fasting blood glucose, HDL-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, BMI, body mass index, WHR, waist/hip ratio, SE, standard error, SD, standard deviation