Relación entre la cantidad y el tipo de alcohol (destilado versus fermentado) consumido y el riesgo de aparición de deterioro cognitivo compatible con un síndrome demencial en personas mayores de 60 años: revisión sistemática

Introduction

Alcohol is the most consumed substance in Western culture and its consumption is a causal factor in more than 200 diseases and disorders. The objective was to determine the relationship between the amount and type of alcohol (distilled or fermented) consumed, in individuals over 60 years of age, and the appearance of cognitive deterioration compatible with a dementia syndrome as a consequence of excessive and prolonged consumption.

Development

Search in Medline, PsycInfo and Web of Science databases. The search was limited to articles published between 2010 and 2021, based on the combination of various terms related to dementia, alcohol consumption and type, and old age. 157 articles were obtained, those repeated and those not related to the topic were eliminated, leaving a total of 9 articles. This systematic review has been carried out in accordance with the criteria of the PRISMA statement.

Conclusions

Most of the studies found (7 out of 9) suggested an association between alcohol consumption and the onset of dementia. Regarding the type of beverages, everything and the objectification of some inconclusive results, in general it is suggested that the consumption of wine (fermented beverage) is associated with a decrease of cognitive deterioration and the consumption of liquor (distilled beverage) to a increased cognitive decline; the role of beer is not clear. Therefore, it can be concluded that the association between alcohol consumption and greater or lesser cognitive impairment depends both on excessive and prolonged consumption, as well as on the type of beverages consumed (distilled or fermented).