Moderate Daily Wine Intake Improves Cognition

MENDOZA, ARGENTINA – Many studies show that light to moderate drinkers have better cognitive function than do abstainers–particularly in old age–Dr. Roger Pinder reported at the Sixth World Congress on Depressive Disorders.

In addition, moderate daily consumption of wine appears to reduce the risk for dementia and improve cognitive function, with a greater beneficial effect for women than for men.

The association between alcohol consumption and cognitive function often is illustrated as a J-shaped curve, because heavy alcohol consumption, or binge drinking, is associated with worse cognitive functioning and increased risk of dementia, said Dr. Pinder, an independent consultant in Dublin.

The association between alcohol consumption and risk of dementia has been investigated in several large cohort studies and in case-control studies analyzing a subset of subjects from within a larger community-based cohort.

A 3-year study of elderly subjects (older than 65 years) in the Bordeaux area of France and a similar 6-year study of subjects older than 55 years in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, showed beneficial effects of moderate alcohol consumption in lowering the risk of dementia.

A case-control study from a U.S. community-based cohort of older subjects compared more than 300 pairs of subjects with incident dementia to controls and found significantly lower risk for dementia associated with light to moderate alcohol consumption.

The Bordeaux study focused on wine consumption. In the U.S. study, wine consumption had a greater benefit than did consumption of beer or spirits. The Rotterdam study showed no significant differences based on type of alcohol consumed.

Three major population-based studies with long-term follow-up have demonstrated an association between moderate alcohol consumption and improved cognition: The Whitehall Study of British Civil Servants, the U.S. Nurse's Health Study, and the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study.

The Whitehall Study, conducted in the United Kingdom, was a cohort study of 4,272 male and 1,761 female civil servants, with a median follow-up of 11 years. Assessment of cognitive function was performed when the subjects were aged 46–68 years. Cognitive function was significantly better in drinkers, compared with nondrinkers, even in those who drank more than 240 g alcohol per week (Am. J. Epidemiol. 2004;160:240–7). The benefit was greater in women than in men.

In the long-term, U.S.-based Nurse's Health Study, cognitive function was evaluated in 12,480 female nurses, aged 70–81 years. Subjects were reevaluated after 2 years. Compared with nondrinkers, moderate drinkers had higher mean cognitive scores and showed reduced risks of cognitive decline (N. Engl. J. Med. 2005;352:245–53).

The Women's Health Initiative Memory Study examined cognitive function and alcohol consumption in more than 4,000 women aged 65–79 years, with an average follow-up of 4 years. Relative to no alcohol consumption, moderate consumption of alcohol was associated with better cognition and reduced risk of cognitive decline (Am. J. Epidemiol. 2005;161:228–38).

One caveat when it comes to assessing the beneficial effects of wine is the presence of potential confounding factors in the studies. Alcohol consumption in many studies is not limited to wine but also includes beer or spirits. Compared with those who drink beer or spirits, wine drinkers tend to have healthier lifestyles. In addition, wine drinkers are more likely to be women, college graduates, and nonsmokers, Dr. Pinder said.

Finally, heavy drinkers often underestimate–or lie about–their alcohol consumption, which can distort results by lowering the apparent threshold for harmful effects. Nonetheless, in several studies, wine consumption appeared to be better than consumption of beer or spirits at improving cognitive function.

Consumption of red wine seems to have a stronger beneficial effect than consumption of white wine or rosé, Dr. Pinder reported. The beneficial effects of red wine may largely be attributable to antioxidants derived from grape skins. “Unlike beer and distilled spirits, wine contains not only alcohol, but also has a lot of polyphenolic antioxidant compounds extracted when the grapes are vinified,” Dr. Pinder said. “Red wine contains more polyphenols than white or rosé, simply because of the greater extraction from the grape skins. And they use grape varieties that are rich in polyphenols.”

MENDOZA, ARGENTINA – Many studies show that light to moderate drinkers have better cognitive function than do abstainers–particularly in old age–Dr. Roger Pinder reported at the Sixth World Congress on Depressive Disorders.

In addition, moderate daily consumption of wine appears to reduce the risk for dementia and improve cognitive function, with a greater beneficial effect for women than for men.

The association between alcohol consumption and cognitive function often is illustrated as a J-shaped curve, because heavy alcohol consumption, or binge drinking, is associated with worse cognitive functioning and increased risk of dementia, said Dr. Pinder, an independent consultant in Dublin.

The association between alcohol consumption and risk of dementia has been investigated in several large cohort studies and in case-control studies analyzing a subset of subjects from within a larger community-based cohort.

A 3-year study of elderly subjects (older than 65 years) in the Bordeaux area of France and a similar 6-year study of subjects older than 55 years in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, showed beneficial effects of moderate alcohol consumption in lowering the risk of dementia.

A case-control study from a U.S. community-based cohort of older subjects compared more than 300 pairs of subjects with incident dementia to controls and found significantly lower risk for dementia associated with light to moderate alcohol consumption.

The Bordeaux study focused on wine consumption. In the U.S. study, wine consumption had a greater benefit than did consumption of beer or spirits. The Rotterdam study showed no significant differences based on type of alcohol consumed.

Three major population-based studies with long-term follow-up have demonstrated an association between moderate alcohol consumption and improved cognition: The Whitehall Study of British Civil Servants, the U.S. Nurse's Health Study, and the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study.

The Whitehall Study, conducted in the United Kingdom, was a cohort study of 4,272 male and 1,761 female civil servants, with a median follow-up of 11 years. Assessment of cognitive function was performed when the subjects were aged 46–68 years. Cognitive function was significantly better in drinkers, compared with nondrinkers, even in those who drank more than 240 g alcohol per week (Am. J. Epidemiol. 2004;160:240–7). The benefit was greater in women than in men.

In the long-term, U.S.-based Nurse's Health Study, cognitive function was evaluated in 12,480 female nurses, aged 70–81 years. Subjects were reevaluated after 2 years. Compared with nondrinkers, moderate drinkers had higher mean cognitive scores and showed reduced risks of cognitive decline (N. Engl. J. Med. 2005;352:245–53).

The Women's Health Initiative Memory Study examined cognitive function and alcohol consumption in more than 4,000 women aged 65–79 years, with an average follow-up of 4 years. Relative to no alcohol consumption, moderate consumption of alcohol was associated with better cognition and reduced risk of cognitive decline (Am. J. Epidemiol. 2005;161:228–38).

One caveat when it comes to assessing the beneficial effects of wine is the presence of potential confounding factors in the studies. Alcohol consumption in many studies is not limited to wine but also includes beer or spirits. Compared with those who drink beer or spirits, wine drinkers tend to have healthier lifestyles. In addition, wine drinkers are more likely to be women, college graduates, and nonsmokers, Dr. Pinder said.

Finally, heavy drinkers often underestimate–or lie about–their alcohol consumption, which can distort results by lowering the apparent threshold for harmful effects. Nonetheless, in several studies, wine consumption appeared to be better than consumption of beer or spirits at improving cognitive function.

Consumption of red wine seems to have a stronger beneficial effect than consumption of white wine or rosé, Dr. Pinder reported. The beneficial effects of red wine may largely be attributable to antioxidants derived from grape skins. “Unlike beer and distilled spirits, wine contains not only alcohol, but also has a lot of polyphenolic antioxidant compounds extracted when the grapes are vinified,” Dr. Pinder said. “Red wine contains more polyphenols than white or rosé, simply because of the greater extraction from the grape skins. And they use grape varieties that are rich in polyphenols.”

MENDOZA, ARGENTINA – Many studies show that light to moderate drinkers have better cognitive function than do abstainers–particularly in old age–Dr. Roger Pinder reported at the Sixth World Congress on Depressive Disorders.

In addition, moderate daily consumption of wine appears to reduce the risk for dementia and improve cognitive function, with a greater beneficial effect for women than for men.

The association between alcohol consumption and cognitive function often is illustrated as a J-shaped curve, because heavy alcohol consumption, or binge drinking, is associated with worse cognitive functioning and increased risk of dementia, said Dr. Pinder, an independent consultant in Dublin.

The association between alcohol consumption and risk of dementia has been investigated in several large cohort studies and in case-control studies analyzing a subset of subjects from within a larger community-based cohort.

A 3-year study of elderly subjects (older than 65 years) in the Bordeaux area of France and a similar 6-year study of subjects older than 55 years in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, showed beneficial effects of moderate alcohol consumption in lowering the risk of dementia.

A case-control study from a U.S. community-based cohort of older subjects compared more than 300 pairs of subjects with incident dementia to controls and found significantly lower risk for dementia associated with light to moderate alcohol consumption.

The Bordeaux study focused on wine consumption. In the U.S. study, wine consumption had a greater benefit than did consumption of beer or spirits. The Rotterdam study showed no significant differences based on type of alcohol consumed.

Three major population-based studies with long-term follow-up have demonstrated an association between moderate alcohol consumption and improved cognition: The Whitehall Study of British Civil Servants, the U.S. Nurse's Health Study, and the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study.

The Whitehall Study, conducted in the United Kingdom, was a cohort study of 4,272 male and 1,761 female civil servants, with a median follow-up of 11 years. Assessment of cognitive function was performed when the subjects were aged 46–68 years. Cognitive function was significantly better in drinkers, compared with nondrinkers, even in those who drank more than 240 g alcohol per week (Am. J. Epidemiol. 2004;160:240–7). The benefit was greater in women than in men.

In the long-term, U.S.-based Nurse's Health Study, cognitive function was evaluated in 12,480 female nurses, aged 70–81 years. Subjects were reevaluated after 2 years. Compared with nondrinkers, moderate drinkers had higher mean cognitive scores and showed reduced risks of cognitive decline (N. Engl. J. Med. 2005;352:245–53).

The Women's Health Initiative Memory Study examined cognitive function and alcohol consumption in more than 4,000 women aged 65–79 years, with an average follow-up of 4 years. Relative to no alcohol consumption, moderate consumption of alcohol was associated with better cognition and reduced risk of cognitive decline (Am. J. Epidemiol. 2005;161:228–38).

One caveat when it comes to assessing the beneficial effects of wine is the presence of potential confounding factors in the studies. Alcohol consumption in many studies is not limited to wine but also includes beer or spirits. Compared with those who drink beer or spirits, wine drinkers tend to have healthier lifestyles. In addition, wine drinkers are more likely to be women, college graduates, and nonsmokers, Dr. Pinder said.

Finally, heavy drinkers often underestimate–or lie about–their alcohol consumption, which can distort results by lowering the apparent threshold for harmful effects. Nonetheless, in several studies, wine consumption appeared to be better than consumption of beer or spirits at improving cognitive function.

Consumption of red wine seems to have a stronger beneficial effect than consumption of white wine or rosé, Dr. Pinder reported. The beneficial effects of red wine may largely be attributable to antioxidants derived from grape skins. “Unlike beer and distilled spirits, wine contains not only alcohol, but also has a lot of polyphenolic antioxidant compounds extracted when the grapes are vinified,” Dr. Pinder said. “Red wine contains more polyphenols than white or rosé, simply because of the greater extraction from the grape skins. And they use grape varieties that are rich in polyphenols.”