Scientist found that heavy drinking in older
adults may
impair cognitive function, learning, memory and motor function
in older adults.
Heavy drinking can lead to neurophysiological and cognitive
changes ranging
from disrupted sleep to more serious neurotoxic effects.
Ageing can also contribute to cognitive
decline. Several
studies on the interaction of current heavy drinking and ageing
have had varied
results.
A new study at Brown University in the US
sought to
elucidate the relations among age, heavy drinking, and
neurocognitive function.
Researchers recruited 66 participants (35
women, 31 men),
who underwent a comprehensive neurocognitive battery of testing.
As many as 21 participants were classified at
current heavy
drinkers and were compared to 45 non-drinkers and moderate
drinkers.
About 53% of the total population had a
lifetime history of
alcohol dependence. Neurocognitive data were grouped according
to global
cognitive function, attention/executive function, learning
memory, motor
function, verbal function and speed of processing.
Results showed that current heavy drinking in
older adults
was associated with poorer global cognitive function, learning,
memory and
motor function.
Furthermore, a lifetime history of AD was
associated with
poorer function in the same neurocognitive domains, as well as
the
attention/executive domain, notwithstanding age.
Although
current heavy drinking
is associated with significant impairment in a number of
neurocognitive
domains, it appears that a history of AD is associated with
lasting negative
consequences for neurocognitive function, researchers said. Check
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