The more alcohol consumed, the smaller the total brain volume: the Framingham Study

Background While adults who drink low to moderate amounts of alcohol have lower rates of cardiovascular disease than other adults, the effect of alcohol on the brain is less clear. There is evidence that drinking large amounts of alcohol is related to brain atrophy. It is uncertain what the effects of low to moderate consumption might be.
Objective To determine whether consumption of smaller amounts of alcohol negatively affects brain volume or is protective in reducing the well-documented age-related decline in brain volume.
Design Total cerebral brain volume (TCBV) was computed, correcting for head size. Multivariate linear regression models were used to evaluate the association between 5 categories of alcohol consumption (abstainers, former drinkers, low, moderate, high) and TCBV, adjusting for age, sex, education, height, body mass index (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared), and the Framingham Stroke Risk Profile. Pairwise comparisons were also conducted between the alcohol consumption groups.
Participants A total of 1839 subjects from the Framingham Offspring Study who had magnetic resonance imaging of the brain between 1999 and 2001.
Results Most participants reported low alcohol consumption, and men were more likely than women to be moderate or heavy drinkers. There was a significant negative linear relationship between alcohol consumption and TCBV (r = –0.25; P < .001). This relationship was modified by sex, with alcohol consumption having a stronger association with TCBV in women than in men (r = –0.29 vs –0.20). Conclusions In contrast to studies on cardiovascular disease, this study found that moderate alcohol consumption was not protective against normal age-related differences in total brain volume. Rather, the more alcohol consumed, the smaller the total brain volume.

Reference:
Carol Ann Paul, MS; Rhoda Au, PhD; Lisa Fredman, PhD; Joseph M. Massaro, PhD; Sudha Seshadri, MD; Charles DeCarli, MD; Philip A. Wolf, MD Association of Alcohol Consumption With Brain Volume in the Framingham Study. Arch Neurol. 2008;65(10):1363-1367 (view)

Publications from The Alzheimer's Society

The following publications can be downloaded free of charge from Alzheimer's Society website.

About dementia
Worried about your memory
Worried about your memory? BookletThis booklet is designed to help you understand more about memory loss, so that if you are worried - either about your own or someone else's memory - you can seek advice and, if necessary, get treatment and support.
Worried about your memory? leafletWorried about your memory? poster
Worried about your memory booklet available in other languages
Please take a look at WAYM? booklets in other languages including Welsh, Arabic, Chinese, Gujurati, Somali, Urdu, Punjabi, Tamil, Benagli, French and Polish
Understanding vascular dementiaThis booklet has been written to help anyone affected by vascular dementia - people with dementia, carers, family members and professionals - to understand the condition.
Be head strongA guide to help you reduce your risk of developing dementia.
Non-pharmacological therapies for the treatment of behavioural symptoms in people with dementiaA 2005 report on non-pharmacological therapies.
Journal of Quality Research in DementiaBack issues of the The Journal of Quality Research in Dementia.
Quality Research in Dementia Annual Round-UpThe Annual Round-Up of Quality Research in Dementia, Alzheimer's Society research grants programme.

Caring for a person with dementia
Love is forever (download only)Couples speak from the heart on facing dementia together - a reminder of how love endures.
Inclusion pack for Gay and Lesbian carersA toolkit for gay and lesbian carers, including a newsletter and a number of useful documents.

Long-term care
When does the NHS pay for care?This booklet has been produced by Alzheimer's Society and is also supported by Age Concern, Help the Aged and the Royal College of Nursing. It contains guidance on eligibility for continuing NHS health care funding in England and how to appeal if it is not awarded.
Have you been paying for care?As part of our campaign for an end to the unfair system of charging for care, we are encouraging people to examine whether they have been wrongly charged for care and, if so, to seek redress. This leaflet explains how to do so.
Putting care rightTaking the decision to move to a care home will always be a difficult one, for the person with dementia and their family. But it can be easier if you are armed with the right information. This booklet can help people facing that kind of decision by setting out what issues to consider and questions to ask.

Dementia

Dementia is the loss of intellectual ability, which is also known as cognitive (thinking) function. Persons with dementia may be confused, not able to remember things, or lose skills they once had, including performing normal daily activities. Eventually, they may not recognize family members or friends and may display agitated behavior. Although dementia is more common in older adults, it is not a normal consequence of aging. The June 6, 2007, issue of JAMA includes an article about screening tests for dementia. This Patient Page is based on one previously published in the September 22/29, 2004, issue of JAMA.


SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DEMENTIA
Gradually increasing memory loss
Confusion
Unclear thinking, including losing problem-solving skills
Agitated behavior or delusions
Becoming lost in formerly familiar circumstances
Loss of interest in daily or usual activities
ALZHEIMER DISEASE
Alzheimer disease is the most common cause of dementia. Persons with Alzheimer disease lose functioning neurons (nerve cells) in areas of the brain dealing with cognitive function and memory. They also experience buildup of abnormal proteins in some brain cells. Alzheimer disease affects mostly older adults but can sometimes begin in younger individuals. The cause of Alzheimer disease is not known, but risk factors for Alzheimer disease include family history, a specific gene, and advanced age.
OTHER CAUSES OF DEMENTIA
Vascular dementia is usually caused by strokes over a period of time that affect blood flow to areas of the brain related to memory and thinking. Some neurological diseases, such as Parkinson disease (a brain disease that causes tremors and muscle stiffness) and Huntington disease (an inherited disease that causes abnormal movements and dementia), can cause dementia because of their effects on brain tissue. Symptoms like those of dementia may be caused by many other factors, including medications and some illnesses. A careful evaluation by your doctor is important to look for treatable causes.
TREATMENT
Diagnosing dementia can help the person and his or her family members seek help from many available resources. There is no cure for Alzheimer disease or vascular dementia. Some prescription medications may help slow the progression of dementia during treatment. Your doctor can help you decide if medication may be worthwhile. Medical research on Alzheimer disease and the other dementias may someday help in prevention, early recognition, and more effective treatments.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
National Institute on Aging http://www.nia.nih.gov/
Alzheimer's Association http://www.alz.org/
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke http://www.ninds.nih.gov/