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Alcohol use and dementia: a systematic scoping review
Rehm J, Hasan OSM, Black SE, Shield KD, Schwarzinger M.. Alzheimer's research & therapy, 2019-01-05
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background Alcohol use has been identified as a risk factor for dementia and cognitive decline. However, some patterns of drinking have been associated with beneficial effects. Methods and results To clarify the relationship between alcohol use and dementia, we conducted a scoping review based on a systematic search of systematic reviews published from January 2000 to October 2017 by using Medline, Embase, and PsycINFO. Overall, 28 systematic reviews were identified: 20 on the associations between the level of alcohol use and the incidence of cognitive impairment/dementia, six on the associations between dimensions of alcohol use and specific brain functions, and two on induced dementias. Although causality could not be established, light to moderate alcohol use in middle to late adulthood was associated with a decreased risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. Heavy alcohol use was associated with changes in brain structures, cognitive impairments, and an increased risk of all types of dementia. Conclusion Reducing heavy alcohol use may be an effective dementia prevention strategy.
Key findings
- However, some patterns of drinking have been associated with beneficial effects.
- Methods and results To clarify the relationship between alcohol use and dementia, we conducted a scoping review based on a systematic search of systematic reviews published from January 2000 to October 2017 by using Medline, Embase, and PsycINFO.
- Overall, 28 systematic reviews were identified: 20 on the associations between the level of alcohol use and the incidence of cognitive impairment/dementia, six on the associations between dimensions of alcohol use and specific brain functions, and two on induced dementias.
- Although causality could not be established, light to moderate alcohol use in middle to late adulthood was associated with a decreased risk of cognitive impairment and dementia.
- Heavy alcohol use was associated with changes in brain structures, cognitive impairments, and an increased risk of all types of dementia.
Why it matters
This scoping review found that light to moderate alcohol use in middle to late adulthood was associated with decreased risk of cognitive impairment and dementia, while heavy alcohol use was associated with increased risk of all types of dementia. Causality could not be established, and reducing heavy alcohol use is suggested as a possible prevention strategy.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 52/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Alzheimer's research & therapy) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Alzheimer s Research & Therapy: journal h-index 146 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2019 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 445 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 49.4 citations a year over 9 year(s) since 2019 |
| Impact for its field and year | 5 / 6 | Cited 29.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 21 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 178 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Michaël Schwarzinger: h-index 37 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of Toronto: institution h-index 1,923 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 6 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 30611304) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 52 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1186/s13195-018-0453-0
- PubMed: 30611304
- Original source →
- Free full text: Alzheimer s Research & Therapy →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Rehm, J., Hasan, O. S. M., Black, S. E., Shield, K. D., & Schwarzinger, M. (2019). Alcohol use and dementia: a systematic scoping review. Alzheimer's research & therapy. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-018-0453-0
Vancouver
Rehm J, Hasan OSM, Black SE, Shield KD, Schwarzinger M. Alcohol use and dementia: a systematic scoping review. Alzheimer's research & therapy. 2019. doi:10.1186/s13195-018-0453-0. PMID: 30611304.
BibTeX
@article{rehm2019-30611304,
author = {Rehm, J. and Hasan, O. S. M. and Black, S. E. and Shield, K. D. and Schwarzinger, M.},
title = {{Alcohol use and dementia: a systematic scoping review}},
journal = {Alzheimer's research \& therapy},
year = {2019},
doi = {10.1186/s13195-018-0453-0},
pmid = {30611304},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-018-0453-0}
}
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