Alcohol Consumption, Poor Lifestyle Choices and Air Pollution Worsen Cognitive Function in Seniors: a Cohort Study in China

Background: Based on the complexity of cognitive-related influences and the specificity of Chinese liquor culture, this study aimed to explore the associations and potential interactions between demographic characteristics, alcohol consumption, life and atmospheric environment and cognitive function in seniors through a comprehensive analysis, in order to provide evidence support and feasible recommendations.Methods: The study sample was selected from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, which included 40,583 seniors aged 65-115 years. Data analysis and processing were performed by R 4.0.4. The relationship between the factors and cognition was modeled and analyzed by generalized additive model, and the interaction was explored by combining the ANOVA.Results: The generalized additive model confirmed that alcohol consumption was detrimental to the cognitive status of older adults, especially for liquor (≥ 38º) and beer. The higher the average daily alcohol consumption, the greater the impairment. SO2 and PM2.5 showed the same negative effects. In contrast, life environment factors such as good education, balanced diet and positive activity participation had a positive effect on cognition in seniors. In addition, interactions between alcohol consumption and average daily alcohol consumption, frequency of vegetable and meat intake, and between open-air activities and air pollution were also confirmed.Conclusions: Poor lifestyle choices such as alcohol consumption, unbalanced diet, lower activity participation, and air pollution deteriorate cognitive function in seniors. It is recommended that the elderly population should avoid alcohol consumption, maintain a balanced diet and be physically active. Attention should also be paid to the effects of air quality.

Determining the sex-specific distributions of average daily alcohol consumption using cluster analysis: is there a separate distribution for people with alcohol dependence?

Background It remains unclear whether alcohol use disorders (AUDs) can be characterized by specific levels of average daily alcohol consumption. The aim of the current study was to model the distributions of average daily alcohol consumption among those who consume alcohol and those with alcohol dependence, the most severe AUD, using various clustering techniques. Methods Data from Wave 1 and Wave 2 of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions were used in the current analyses. Clustering algorithms were applied in order to group a set of data points that represent the average daily amount of alcohol consumed. Gaussian Mixture Models (GMMs) were then used to estimate the likelihood of a data point belonging to one of the mixture distributions. Individuals were assigned to the clusters which had the highest posterior probabilities from the GMMs, and their treatment utilization rate was examined for each of the clusters. Results Modeling alcohol consumption via clustering techniques was feasible. The clusters identified did not point to alcohol dependence as a separate cluster characterized by a higher level of alcohol consumption. Among both females and males with alcohol dependence, daily alcohol consumption was relatively low. Conclusions Overall, we found little evidence for clusters of people with the same drinking distribution, which could be characterized as clinically relevant for people with alcohol use disorders as currently defined.

Determining the Sex-Specific Distributions of Average Daily Alcohol Consumption Using a Machine Learning Method: Is There a Separate Distribution for People With Alcohol Dependence?

BackgroundIt remains unclear whether alcohol use disorders (AUDs) can be characterized by specific levels of average daily alcohol consumption. The aim of the current study was to model the distributions of average daily alcohol consumption among those who consume alcohol and those with alcohol dependence, the most severe AUD, using various machine learning techniques. MethodsData from Wave 1 and Wave 2 of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions were used in the current analyses. Clustering algorithms were applied in order to group a set of data points that represent the average daily amount of alcohol consumed. Gaussian Mixture Models (GMMs) were then used to estimate the likelihood of a data point belonging to one of the mixture distributions. Individuals were assigned to the clusters which had the highest posterior probabilities from the GMMs, and their treatment utilization rate was examined for each of the clusters. ResultsModeling alcohol consumption via machine learning technique was feasible. The clusters identified did not point to alcohol dependence as a separate cluster characterized by a higher level of alcohol consumption. Among both females and males with alcohol dependence, daily alcohol consumption was relatively low. ConclusionsOverall, we found little evidence for clusters of people with the same drinking distribution, which could be characterized as clinically relevant for people with alcohol use disorders as currently defined.

Alcohol Consumption and Aortic Root Dilatation: Insights from the Corinthia Study

Aortic diameter and progression to thoracic aortic aneurysm are influenced by several factors. In this study, we investigated the association of alcohol consumption with aortic root and ascending aorta dilatation. In the context of the Corinthia study, we examined 1751 patients with echocardiography. Several demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded. Alcohol consumption was assessed based on a questionnaire of frequency, type, and quantity. Accordingly, patients were categorized as everyday alcohol consumers (EDACs) and as social drinkers (SoD). Everyday alcohol consumers were further categorized to group 1: 0 to 1 drink/d; group 2: 1 to 2 drinks/d; and group 3: ≥3 drinks/d. From the study population, 40% were categorized as EDAC and had an increased aortic root diameter (AoRD) and an elevated AoRD index compared with SoD. Interestingly, there was a stepwise increase in aortic root and ascending aorta diameter according to daily alcohol consumption. Specifically, patients consuming ≥3 drinks of alcohol/d had increased indexed aortic by 1.4 mm/m2 compared with SoD even after adjustment for possible confounders. Daily alcohol consumption is associated with increased aortic root diameter. These findings may have important clinical implications, especially in patients with borderline or dilated aortic root, and merit further investigation.

Habitual Alcohol Intake Modifies Relationship of Uric Acid to Incident Chronic Kidney Disease

Background: Previous studies showed that higher serum uric acid levels increased the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), but moderate alcohol consumption decreased it. The comparative importance of serum uric acid levels and habitual alcohol consumption as risk factors for CKD remain undefined. We therefore evaluated the relationship of baseline serum uric acid level in combination with daily alcohol consumption to the incidence of CKD. Methods: A prospective cohort study of 9,116 middle-aged nondiabetic ­Japanese men without CKD nor proteinuria who were not taking antihypertensive medications nor urate-lowering medications at entry. CKD was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2. We investigated the relationship of baseline serum uric acid level in combination with daily alcohol consumption to the incidence of CKD during an 11-year observation period. Daily alcohol consumption was classified into 4 groups: nondrinkers, light drinkers (0.1–23.0 g ethanol/day), moderate drinkers (23.1–46.0 g ethanol/day), and heavy drinkers (≥46.1 g ethanol/day). Cox proportional hazards models were used in multivariate analysis. Results: During the 79,361 person-years follow-up period, a total of 1,230 subjects developed CKD. In multivariate models, higher serum uric acid levels increased risk of CKD; and moderate daily alcohol consumption decreased the risk. Multiple-adjusted hazard ratios of CKD were 1.38 (95% CI 1.11–1.70), 1.58 (95% CI 1.28–1.95), 2.27 (95% CI 1.86–2.77), and 3.12 (95% CI 2.56–3.81) for quintile 2, quintile 3, quintile 4, and quintile 5 of serum uric acid levels, respectively, compared with quintile 1, and that for moderate drinkers was 0.55 (95% CI 0.46–0.66) compared with nondrinkers. In the joint analysis of alcohol consumption and serum uric acid, moderate drinkers with the lowest tertile of serum uric acid levels had the lowest risk of CKD, but nondrinkers with the highest tertile of serum uric acid levels had the highest risk of CKD. Conclusions: Serum uric acid level and daily alcohol consumption were independently associated with the risk of CKD. Nondrinkers with the highest serum uric acid level had the highest risk of CKD.

Association between physical activity and alcohol consumption: sociodemographic and behavioral patterns in Brazilian adults

ABSTRACT Background Our aim was to investigate the association between physical activity and alcohol consumption, as well as the sociodemographic and behavioral patterns of this association in a representative sample of Brazilian adults. Methods Data from the Brazilian Health Survey (PNS), a nationally representative survey conducted in 2013 (n = 60 202; age≥18 years), were used. Time spent in leisure physical activity, alcohol consumption as well as sociodemographic (chronological age, educational status and skin color) and associated behavioral factors (TV viewing and tobacco smoking) were collected via interview. Logistic regression models were used for the main analyses. Results Prevalence of weekly and almost daily alcohol consumption were 29.5% and 6.7% for men and 12.0% and 1.0% for women respectively. Adults with weekly alcohol consumption were more likely to be classified as physically active [young: men=OR:1.20 (CI 95%:1.02–1.39), women= OR:2.33 (CI 95%:1.92–2.82); middle-aged: men= OR:1.46 (CI 95%: 1.17–1.82), women= OR:1.75 (CI 95%:1.38–2.22); older: men= OR:1.83 (CI 95%:1.27–2.66), women= OR:2.11 (CI 95%: s1.26–3.52)], when compared to adults with no alcohol consumption. Almost daily alcohol consumption was associated with lower physical activity among young and middle-aged adults but with higher physical activity among older adults of both sexes and young women. Conclusions Weekly alcohol consumption was associated with a higher level of physical activity among young, middle aged and older adults.