Addressing common biases in the evaluation of lifetime alcohol consumption patterns and dementia risk: the EPIC-Spain dementia cohort.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Alcohol consumption has been described to exhibit a J-shaped relationship with dementia risk, but previous observations may be partly biased due to "sick-quitters" and competing risks of death.

Objective

To examine the association between baseline and lifetime alcohol consumption and the risk of dementia and subtypes in a large Mediterranean cohort, accounting for lifetime drinking patterns, potential confounding, and competing risks of death.

Methods

Prospective study of 30,211 participants, 29-69 years at recruitment (1992-1996), from the EPIC-Spain dementia cohort. Alcohol intake was assessed using a validated dietary history and retrospective questionnaires covering ages 20, 30, and 40 years. Dementia cases (n = 1,114) were ascertained through li

SUBMITTER: Huerta JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12560181 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature