Premium
Relationship between alcohol intake, age of onset and duration of Alzheimer's disease: A pilot survey of 84 autopsy‐confirmed cases
Author(s) -
BidautRussell Michelle,
Grossberg George T.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.930061107
Subject(s) - disease , alzheimer's disease , medicine , alcohol abuse , autopsy , population , age of onset , respondent , medical record , gerontology , psychiatry , environmental health , political science , law
Little is known about the drinking habits of individuals who develop Alzheimer's disease. A pilot survey of 84 autopsy‐confirmed Alzheimer cases was carried out to explore a possible role of alcohol consumption in the onset and duration of Alzheimer's disease. Information on the drinking habits of deceased patients for a 15‐year period prior to the onset of the disease was obtained from a surrogate respondent (next of kin) and from the patients' medical records. Alzheimer patients' drinking patterns were comparable to those of the general population. Patients with a history of alcohol abuse did not develop Alzeimer's disease at an earlier age than abstainers or occasional, light or moderate drinkers. Although not statistically significant, duration of survival in Alzheimer's disease was a few years shorter in patients with a history of alcohol abuse.