Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

MintAeroKitKat t1_iyisirb wrote

Reply to comment by uninstallIE in BMI Declines Seen Seven Years Before Cognitive Impairment Diagnosis by johnhemingwayscience

Wait so the group who consumed less alcohol had higher rates of MCI? Did a read it wrong? I was literally just talking to a Dr friend whose specialty is geriatric care and one of the first things she recommends to patients experiencing early cognitive symptoms is cut out alcohol, since…neurotoxin. The brain as one ages processes alcohol less effectively, to boot, and she’s seen distinct improvement in her patients based on that habit change alone.

8

Mercury2Phoenix t1_iyj4q3t wrote

It is an association, not causation. Meaning that the reduction of consumption of alcohol didn't necessarily cause the MCI. Hypothetical example: It could be that in the initial stages of MCI alcohol no longer provides euphoria and therefore the person stops drinking, and then later on develops symptoms of MCI. It is still a good practice to eliminate alcohol because it may slow the progression of impairment (and your doctor friend probably has study data to back this up.)

14

PuckSR t1_iyjwyyn wrote

This sounds accurate. Also, older people in general drink less frequently because it's less fun and generally a social activity

4

kkngs t1_iyjp3tl wrote

You just described a mechanism for the correlation. Doctors tell at risk patients to stop drinking alcohol.

1