Moderate alcohol consumption does not protect cognitive function when controlling for income and cultural factors
IntroductionAlcohol consumption is commonly considered to be a modifiable risk factor in cognitive decline. However, numerous studies have found an association between light to moderate consumption of alcohol and enhanced cognitive function. It has been proposed that this finding is due to the effec...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2025.1569069/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849731763362856960 |
|---|---|
| author | Kerri M. Gillespie Eva Kemps Melanie J. White Selena E. Bartlett |
| author_facet | Kerri M. Gillespie Eva Kemps Melanie J. White Selena E. Bartlett |
| author_sort | Kerri M. Gillespie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionAlcohol consumption is commonly considered to be a modifiable risk factor in cognitive decline. However, numerous studies have found an association between light to moderate consumption of alcohol and enhanced cognitive function. It has been proposed that this finding is due to the effects of socioeconomic status (SES) or other covariates on drinking behaviors. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of alcohol on cognition, and the impact of different socioeconomic indicators on this relationship.MethodsAn online, cross-sectional survey, including an assessment of five domains of cognitive function, was conducted in 123 healthy adults between 18 and 70 years of age. Secondary analysis of the 2018 National Health Survey was conducted to investigate drinking patterns, and their relationships to SES indicators, in the Australian population.ResultsIncome and education showed dissimilar patterns of association with alcohol consumption. Enhancements in cognitive function were associated with light to moderate dose and frequency of alcohol consumption when unadjusted, or adjusted for SES using education level as an indicator. Benefits of light to moderate dose and frequency of consumption were not evident when using income as an indicator for SES. Inclusion of language spoken in the home as a covariate also resolved any association between moderate consumption and enhanced cognitive function.DiscussionFindings suggest that associations between moderate alcohol consumption and cognition are an artifact of income, language proficiency, and culture. The use of income is more indicative of drinking behavior than education, and should be controlled for in studies of alcohol consumption behavior. Language spoken at home is also an important consideration as this factor is significantly associated with income, alcohol consumption, and cognitive test performance. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a7f7ecf7c48141c086fdb231f1a865c2 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1663-4365 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj-art-a7f7ecf7c48141c086fdb231f1a865c22025-08-20T03:08:26ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience1663-43652025-05-011710.3389/fnagi.2025.15690691569069Moderate alcohol consumption does not protect cognitive function when controlling for income and cultural factorsKerri M. Gillespie0Eva Kemps1Melanie J. White2Selena E. Bartlett3Faculty of Health, School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, AustraliaCollege of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, AustraliaFaculty of Health, School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, AustraliaFaculty of Health, School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, AustraliaIntroductionAlcohol consumption is commonly considered to be a modifiable risk factor in cognitive decline. However, numerous studies have found an association between light to moderate consumption of alcohol and enhanced cognitive function. It has been proposed that this finding is due to the effects of socioeconomic status (SES) or other covariates on drinking behaviors. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of alcohol on cognition, and the impact of different socioeconomic indicators on this relationship.MethodsAn online, cross-sectional survey, including an assessment of five domains of cognitive function, was conducted in 123 healthy adults between 18 and 70 years of age. Secondary analysis of the 2018 National Health Survey was conducted to investigate drinking patterns, and their relationships to SES indicators, in the Australian population.ResultsIncome and education showed dissimilar patterns of association with alcohol consumption. Enhancements in cognitive function were associated with light to moderate dose and frequency of alcohol consumption when unadjusted, or adjusted for SES using education level as an indicator. Benefits of light to moderate dose and frequency of consumption were not evident when using income as an indicator for SES. Inclusion of language spoken in the home as a covariate also resolved any association between moderate consumption and enhanced cognitive function.DiscussionFindings suggest that associations between moderate alcohol consumption and cognition are an artifact of income, language proficiency, and culture. The use of income is more indicative of drinking behavior than education, and should be controlled for in studies of alcohol consumption behavior. Language spoken at home is also an important consideration as this factor is significantly associated with income, alcohol consumption, and cognitive test performance.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2025.1569069/fullcognitionalcoholsocioeconomic statusincomelanguage |
| spellingShingle | Kerri M. Gillespie Eva Kemps Melanie J. White Selena E. Bartlett Moderate alcohol consumption does not protect cognitive function when controlling for income and cultural factors Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience cognition alcohol socioeconomic status income language |
| title | Moderate alcohol consumption does not protect cognitive function when controlling for income and cultural factors |
| title_full | Moderate alcohol consumption does not protect cognitive function when controlling for income and cultural factors |
| title_fullStr | Moderate alcohol consumption does not protect cognitive function when controlling for income and cultural factors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Moderate alcohol consumption does not protect cognitive function when controlling for income and cultural factors |
| title_short | Moderate alcohol consumption does not protect cognitive function when controlling for income and cultural factors |
| title_sort | moderate alcohol consumption does not protect cognitive function when controlling for income and cultural factors |
| topic | cognition alcohol socioeconomic status income language |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2025.1569069/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kerrimgillespie moderatealcoholconsumptiondoesnotprotectcognitivefunctionwhencontrollingforincomeandculturalfactors AT evakemps moderatealcoholconsumptiondoesnotprotectcognitivefunctionwhencontrollingforincomeandculturalfactors AT melaniejwhite moderatealcoholconsumptiondoesnotprotectcognitivefunctionwhencontrollingforincomeandculturalfactors AT selenaebartlett moderatealcoholconsumptiondoesnotprotectcognitivefunctionwhencontrollingforincomeandculturalfactors |