Older males, cognitive function, and alcohol consumption.
We investigated the question, how do older men who drink alcohol differ from those who do not drink on measures of cognitive function, memory, affect, and health? Of the nonprobability sample of male participants (N = 60), 35 (58%) of the males reported some degree of alcohol consumption. Eleven men had one or more drinks per day, 14 had one or more drinks per week, and 9 were occasional drinkers. The drinkers reported significantly less depression, had higher self-reported general health and vitality, and had higher cognitive performance, cognitive flexibility, and verbal memory, and greater knowledge of memory processes.
The University of Texas at Austin, School of Nursing, Austin, 78701, USA. gmcdougall@mail.nur.utexas.edu
Graham J
GJ
McDougall
Heather
H
Becker
Kristopher L
KL
Areheart
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008571:Men / Q000523:psychology*; D008603:Mental Health; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013781:Texas