The Relationship between Alcohol Use Disorder, Measures of Cognitive Decline, and Alzheimer Disease Biomarkers in Older Adults

BackgroundAlcohol use disorder (AUD) is associated with increased risks of neuropsychiatric conditions and dementia. However, the association between Alzheimer disease (AD) and AUD is poorly characterized. To address this, we studied associations between AUD, cognition, and measures of AD neuropathology. MethodsWe measured a lifetime history of AUD, cognitive decline and blood biomarkers for AD (Amyloid Positivity Score 2, A{beta}42/A{beta}40 and p-tau217/np-tau217 ratio) in older participants from the St. Louis site of the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA). AUD was defined as having four or more DSM-5 AUD symptoms at the time of heaviest lifetime consumption, as most AUD related morbidity and mortality are associated with moderate/severe AUD. Cognitive decline was measured using the AD8 score (N=356), and AD biomarkers were derived from plasma measurements (N=138). We used Poisson regression models to evaluate the relationship between AUD, age, and cognitive decline, with age modeled as a piecewise linear variable by decade. Linear regressions were used to assess the association between AD blood biomarkers and AUD. ResultsAnalyses revealed a significant association between AUD and increased cognitive decline in older adults (RR=1.31, p<0.001). No statistical association was seen between plasma AD biomarkers and AUD. ConclusionsThese results underscore the importance of addressing AUD as a potentially modifiable risk factor for cognitive decline in older adults. Further study is needed to understand the link between AUD and AD biomarkers.