Alcohol intake and brain structure in a multiethnic elderly cohort.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Evidence suggests that consuming light-to-moderate amounts of alcohol reduces the risk of dementia and is associated better cognitive function and less cardiovascular disease, relative to those consuming no or heavy alcohol. There are only minimal data on the association between alcohol and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers. This study aimed to examine the association between alcohol and brain structure measured with MRI.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, high-resolution structural MRI was collected on 589 multi-ethnic community residents of New York aged ≥65 with available alcohol intake assessments via a food frequency questionnaire. Total brain volume (TBV), white matter hyperintensity volume (WMHV), and presence of infarcts were derive

SUBMITTER: Gu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4048329 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature