You Are an Experimental Psychologist, and You Must Create a Power Point Presentation For

You are an experimental psychologist, and you must create a power point presentation for a group of neurosurgeons on the use of alcohol.

Brain & Alcohol

by David J. Hanson, Ph. D.

The moderate consumption of alcohol (beer, wine or distilled spirits) is associated with better health and greater longevity than is either abstaining or drinking heavily. In addition, research from around the world involving large numbers of people indicates that drinking alcoholic beverages in moderation reduces the risk of declining mental abilities. That includes reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Summaries of some of these studies are listed below

Moderate Drinking Reduces Dementia Risk

Moderate Drinking Helps Memory

Moderate Drinking Improves Brain Functioning

Better Cognitive Ability

Moderate Drinking Improves Later Cognition

Moderate Drinking Beneficial to Mental Function

Alcohol Helps Brain Cognition

Alcohol and Dementia

Drinking Alcohol Good for Memory and Thinking

Drinking & Dementia/Alzheimer’s

Drinking May Reduce Risk of Alzheimer’s

Print Resources

Antilla, Tiia, et al.Alcohol drinking in middle age and subsequent risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia in old age: a prospective population based study. British Medical Journal, 2004, 329, 538-539.

Baum-Baicker, C., The psychological benefits of moderate alcohol consumption: A review of the literature. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 1985, 15.

Bond, G., et al. Alcohol, aging and cognitive performance in a cohort of Japanese-Americans aged 65 and older: The Kame Project. International Psychogeriatrics, 2001, 13(2), 207-223.

Christian, J. Moderate alcohol consumption helps preserve reasoning skills. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 1995, 56, 414-416.

Cupples, L., et al. Effects of smoking, alcohol, and APO genotype on Alzheimer’s disease: the MIRAGE Study. Alzheimer Report, 2000, 3, 105-114.

Dufouil, C., et al. Sex differences in the association between alcohol consumption and cognitive Performance. American Journal of Epidemiology, 1997, 146(5), 405-412.

Elias, P., et al. Alcohol consumption and cognitive performance in the Framingham Heart Study. American Journal of Epidemiology, 1999, 150(6), 550-589.

Galanis, D. J., et al. A longitudinal study of drinking and cognitive performance in elderly Japanese American men: The Honolulu-Asia Aging Study. American Journal of Public Health, 2000, 90, 1254-1259.

Hendrie, H., et al. The relationship between alcohol consumption, cognitive performance, and daily functioning in an urban sample of older black Americans. Journal of the American Geriatric Society, 1996, 44(10), 1158-1165.

Launer, L., et al. Smoking, drinking and thinking: the Zutphen Elderly Study. American Journal of Epidemiology, 1996, 143(3), 219-227.

McDougall, Graham. Older Women's Cognitive and Affective Response to Moderate Drinking. Presented at the meetings of the National Congress on the State of Science in Nursing Research. Washington, D.C., October 7-8,2004; University of Texas at Austin. Moderate drinking in older adult women has positive influence on memory. News release, October 3, 2004.

Mulkamal, K.J., et al. Prospective study of alcohol consumption and risk of dementia in older adults. Journal of the American Medical Association, 2003 (March 19), 289, 1405-1413.

Orgogozo, M., et al. Wine consumption and dementia in the elderly: A prospective community study in the Bordeaux area. Revue Neurologique, 1997, 151(3).

Ruitenberg, A., et al. Alcohol consumption and risk of dementia: the Rotterdam Study. Lancet, 2002, 359(9303), 281-286.

Stampfer, M.J., et al. Effects of moderate alcohol consumption on cognitive function in women. New England Journal of Medicine, 2005, 352, 245-253.

Tyson, P., and Schirmuly, M. Memory enhancement after drinking ethanol: Consolidation, Interference, or response bias? Psychology and Behavior, 1994, 56(5), 933-937.