Latest findings from the Nurses’ Health Study
One Alcoholic Drink Per Day Improves Cognitive Function Among Older Women
Older women who consumed one drink per day have a reduced risk of cognitive impairment as compared to nondrinkers
Boston, MA – While adverse effects of excess alcohol consumption are well established, the health effects of moderate consumption – one drink of wine, beer or liquor – are not clear. Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) and Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), in an analysis of data from the Nurses’ Health Study, found that compared to women who were nondrinkers, older women who consumed one drink per day experienced less cognitive impairment. Specifically, such moderate consumption of alcohol seemed to produce a 20 percent reduced risk of cognitive impairment. These findings are published in the January 20, 2005 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
According to senior author, BWH’s Francine Grodstein, ScD, and associate professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, “Much evidence has demonstrated the heart benefits of light alcohol drinking, but less research has focused on cognitive functioning. While we all continue to recommend exercising caution when consuming any type of alcohol, our study suggests that moderate consumption might provide older women some cognitive benefits. Additional research needs to be conducted to better understand the links between alcohol and cognitive function.”
Researchers reviewed data from 12,480 women, 70 to 81-years-old, who participated in the Nurse’s Health Study. First, alcohol consumption data was collected as part of food-frequency questionnaires issued every few years between 1980 and 1998. Alcohol intake was measured in grams of beer, wine and liquor, with moderate consumption – one glass per day – defined as less than 15 grams per day. Then, from 1995-2002, women participated in telephone-based cognitive surveys in which general cognition and verbal memory and fluency were evaluated. Women who were classified as moderate drinkers – those who consumed less than 15 grams of alcohol per day - had better mean cognitive scores than nondrinkers. In addition, researchers found no significant difference in cognitive functioning among the nondrinkers and those who consumed more than one drink per day. Also, there did not seem to be any substantial difference in the effects of different forms of alcoholic beverages.
“These findings add to the results of previous studies which assessed alcohol consumption and cognitive functioning,” said HSPH’s Meir Stampfer, MD. “Given our large study population, this body of research is now powerful enough to suggest continued research to ultimately better understand the impact moderate alcohol has on cognitive function.”
Please contact BWH Media Relations for more information at (617) 534-1600 or BWHMediaRelations@partners.org.
BWH is a 747-bed nonprofit teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School and a founding member of Partners HealthCare System, an integrated health care delivery network. BWH is committed to excellence in patient care with expertise in virtually every specialty of medicine and surgery. The BWH medical preeminence dates back to 1832 and today that rich history in clinical care is coupled with its national leadership in quality improvement and patient safety initiatives, dedication to educating and training health care professionals, and strength in biomedical research. With $370M in funding and more than 500 research scientists, BWH is an acclaimed leader in clinical, basic and epidemiological investigation - including the landmark Nurses Health Study, Physicians Health Studies, and the Women's Health Initiative. For more information visit www.brighamandwomens.org
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