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Psychiatrists advise abstinence from or minimal use of alcohol because of its harmful effects on disorders such as depression and because of the high prevalence of alcohol abuse. However, alcohol use might benefit the cardiovascular system and slow the development of dementia. To examine the effects of alcohol consumption on cognitive decline, these researchers longitudinally followed an elderly community sample in rural Pennsylvania; participants underwent biannual assessments of cognition, psychiatric disorders, and drinking frequency and extent.
Data on 1259 participants were available for analysis (mean age, 74.6; 60.8% women; average follow-up, 7.3 years). Drinking frequency was classified into three tiers: no drinking, minimal drinking…