title: Alcohol and Alzheimer's Disease-Does Alcohol Dependence Contribute to Beta-Amyloid Deposition, Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's Disease?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the underlying neurobiology between alcohol use, misuse and dependence and cognitive impairment, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of the literature using searches of Medline, Pubmed, EMBASE, PsycInfo, and meeting abstracts and presentations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The role of alcohol as a risk factor and contributor for cognitive decline associated with AD has received little attention. This is despite the high prevalence of alcohol use, the potential reversibility of a degree of cognitive impairment and the global burden of AD. Until now the focus has largely been on the toxic effects of alcohol, neuronal loss and the role of thiamine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We propose alcohol adds to the cognitive burden seen in dementia through additional mechanisms to neurodegenerative processes or may contribute at various mechanistic points in the genesis and sustenance of AD pathology via neuroinflammation. We describe the common underlying neurobiology in alcohol and AD, and examine ways alcohol likely contributes to neuroinflammation directly via stimulation of Toll-like receptors and indirectly from small bowel changes, hepatic changes, withdrawal and traumatic brain injury to the pathogenesis of AD.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Alcohol use, misuse and dependence cause cognitive impairment. We propose alcohol adds to the cognitive burden seen in dementia through additional mechanisms to neurodegenerative processes or may contribute at various mechanistic points in the genesis and sustenance of AD pathology via neuroinflammation.
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, Centre for Psychiatry, Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, 5th Floor Burlington Danes Building, 160 Du Cane Road, LondonW12 0NN, UK.
authors.forename: Ashwin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Venkataraman
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Rd, LondonW6 8RF, UK.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kalk
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Rd, LondonW6 8RF, UK.
authors.forename: Gavin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sewell
authors.affiliation: Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, The Chancellor's Building, 49 Chancellor's Building, Little France, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK.
authors.forename: Craig W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Ritchie
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, Centre for Psychiatry, Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, 5th Floor Burlington Danes Building, 160 Du Cane Road, LondonW12 0NN, UK.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lingford-Hughes
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D058225:Plaque, Amyloid / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*