Journal article

Alcohol consumption and cognitive performance in a random sample of Australian soldiers who served in the Second World War

OF Dent, MR Sulway, GA Broe, H Creasey, SC Kos, AF Jorm, C Tennant, MJ Fairley

BMJ-BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL | BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP | Published : 1997

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between the average daily alcohol intake of older men in 1982 and cognitive performance and brain atrophy nine years later. SUBJECTS: Random sample of 209 Australian men living in the community who were veterans of the second world war. Their mean age in 1982 was 64.3 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: 18 standard neuropsychological tests measuring a range of intellectual functions. Cortical, sylvian, and vermian atrophy on computed tomography. RESULTS: Compared with Australian men of the same age in previous studies these men had sustained a high rate of alcohol consumption into old age. However, there was no significant correlation, linear or non-linear, be..

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