Reported alcohol consumption and cognitive decline: The northern Manhattan study.

BACKGROUND Moderate alcohol intake may slow cognitive decline, and both vascular and neurodegenerative mechanisms have been implicated. METHODS We examined reported alcohol intake and cognitive decline in a community-based cohort of Hispanic, black and white individuals (n = 1,428). The role of the apolipoprotein E epsilon4 (APOE4) allele as a modifier was also studied. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Reported drinking was as follows: 300 participants (21%) were 'never' drinkers, 622 (44%) 'past' drinkers, 145 (10%) reported taking less than 1 drink weekly, 330 (23%) 1 drink weekly up to 2 daily and 31 (2%) more than 2 drinks daily. A positive relationship was seen between reported alcohol intake and cognition. Drinking less than 1 drink a week (p = 0.09), between 1 drink weekly up to 2 drinks daily (p = 0.001) and more than 2 drinks daily (p = 0.003) were associated with less cognitive decline on the modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status compared to never drinkers. This dose-response relationship was not modified by the presence of an APOE4 allele in a subsample.