RELATION OF SMOKING AND LOW-TO-MODERATE ALCOHOL-CONSUMPTION TO CHANGEIN COGNITIVE FUNCTION - A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY IN A DEFINED COMMUNITY OF OLDER PERSONS

To determine whether smoking habits and alcohol consumption are relate d to changes in cognitive function, the authors conducted a prospectiv e, community-based study of persons aged 65 years and over in East Bos ton, Massachusetts. In 1982 and again in 1985, the subjects were given three brief tests of cognitive function: immediate memory, digit span , and a mental status questionnaire, which primarily assessed orientat ion. The 1,201 individuals who performed well in 1982 were included in linear regression analyses of 3-year change in performance, adjusted for age, sex, education, and income. Relative to nonsmoking, current s moking, past smoking, and pack-years were not significantly related to change in immediate memory. None was significantly related to change in orientation. Only pack-years was significantly related to normal ch ange score in digit span (normal change score change per unit of predi ctor = 0.001, 95% confidence interval 0.0003-0.002). Low-to-moderate a lcohol consumption during the month preceding baseline testing was not significantly related to a subsequent 3-year change in performance in two of the three tests. However, people who consumed a very small amo unt of alcohol had a normal change score that was 0.088 (95% confidenc e interval 0.015-0.160) better for digit span than did nondrinkers. Th is study provides evidence that the reported levels of smoking and alc ohol use among older persons are not consistent or substantial predict ors of the longitudinal change in cognitive function observed in a com munity.