Drunk, but not smart
According to the results of a national-scale study led by Professor Jurgen Rehm from the Center for the Prevention of Drug Addiction and Mental Disorders in Toronto, alcohol-related disorders are the most important of the preventable risk factors for the development of all types of dementia, especially early onset dementia.
As part of the study, scientists analyzed data on more than a million adults living in France who were diagnosed with alcoholism. All participants were found to have mental and behavioral disorders or chronic diseases associated with chronic alcohol abuse. The purpose of the analysis was to identify the potential impact of alcohol abuse on the functional state of the brain.
The study participants identified 57,000 cases of early onset dementia (in people younger than 65 years). In most cases (57%), the development of the disease was caused by chronic heavy drinking. The World Health Organization defines it as the consumption of more than 60 grams of pure alcohol on average per day for women and 40 grams per day for women. (In the list for French cognac or the main Russian national drink – 150 and 100 grams.)
Dementia with early onset was characterized by a noticeable difference depending on gender. While women suffered from dementia in most cases, almost two thirds (64.9%) of patients with early dementia were men.
Alcohol-related disorders were also associated with all other independent risk factors for dementia, including smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, poor education, depression and other avoidable factors. This suggests that alcohol consumption can contribute to the development of dementia through a variety of mechanisms.
Professor Rehm emphasizes that, on average, alcohol-related disorders shorten life expectancy by more than 20 years, and dementia is the leading cause of death among these people.
Based on the data obtained, the authors concluded that in order to reduce the burden exerted on society by alcohol-associated dementia, it is necessary to conduct screening, rapid intervention in cases of heavy drinking and timely treatment of alcohol-related disorders. Professor Rem noted that, unfortunately, today such patients come under the supervision of specialists too late for the treatment of alcoholism to have a positive effect on the state of cognitive function.
Article by Michael Schwarzinger et al. Contribution of alcohol use disorders to the burden of dementia in France 2008-13: a nationwide retrospective cohort study published in The Lancet Public Health journal.
Evgenia Ryabtseva, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru According to MedicalNewsToday: Alcohol use disorder is a 'major risk factor' for dementia.