Alcohol consumption and cognitive performance in the Framingham Heart Study

Recent studies have indicated that moderate alcohol intake may be beneficia l to cognitive functioning in women, although not necessarily in men. Data from the Framingham Heart Study, a large, prospective study of cardiovascul ar disease in Framingham, Massachusetts, were used to examine the relation between alcohol consumption and cognitive ability. The major research quest ion was whether a different alcohol-cognition relation would be found for m ale and female drinkers. Men (n = 733) and women (n = 1,053), aged 55-88 ye ars, were queried as to their weekly intake of alcohol, and these data were used to construct groups of abstainers, very light, light, moderate, and h eavy drinkers. Data from earlier reports of alcohol consumption were also e xamined. Participants were administered eight tests which reflect performan ce in the domains of verbal memory, learning, visual organization and memor y, attention, abstract reasoning, and concept formation. Multivariate linea r regression analyses were used with statistical adjustment for age, educat ion, occupation, cardiovascular disease, and associated risk factors. Women who drank moderately (2-4 drinks/day) showed superior performance in many cognitive domains relative to abstainers. For men, superior performance was found within the range of 4-8 drinks/day, although fewer significant relat ions were observed. These results were confirmed by prospective analyses of 24-year drinking history.