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The interplay between cognitive ability, alcohol consumption, and health characteristics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 December 2017

E. Degerud ,
E. Ystrom ,
K. Tambs ,
I. Ariansen ,
J. Mørland ,
P. Magnus ,
G. Davey Smith  and
Ø. Næss
E. Degerud*
Affiliation:
Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O Box 4404, N-0403 Oslo, Norway
E. Ystrom
Affiliation:
Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O Box 4404, N-0403 Oslo, Norway
K. Tambs
Affiliation:
Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O Box 4404, N-0403 Oslo, Norway
I. Ariansen
Affiliation:
Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O Box 4404, N-0403 Oslo, Norway
J. Mørland
Affiliation:
Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O Box 4404, N-0403 Oslo, Norway Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, P.O box 1171, Blindern, 0318 Oslo, Norway
P. Magnus
Affiliation:
Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O Box 4404, N-0403 Oslo, Norway
G. Davey Smith
Affiliation:
MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Senate House, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TH, UK
Ø. Næss
Affiliation:
Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O Box 4404, N-0403 Oslo, Norway Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, P.O box 1130, Blindern, 0318 Oslo, Norway
*
Author for correspondence: E. Degerud, E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Background

Higher cognitive ability is associated with favourable health characteristics. The relation between ability and alcohol consumption, and their interplay with other health characteristics, is unclear. We aimed to assess the relationship between cognitive ability and alcohol consumption and to assess whether alcohol consumption relates differently to health characteristics across strata of ability.

Methods

For 63 120 Norwegian males, data on cognitive ability in early adulthood were linked to midlife data on alcohol consumption frequency (times per month, 0–30) and other health characteristics, including cardiovascular risk factors and mental distress. Relations were assessed using linear regression and reported as unstandardised beta coefficients [95% confidence interval (CI)].

Results

The mean ± s.d. frequency of total alcohol consumption in the sample was 4.0 ± 3.8 times per month. In the low, medium, and high group of ability, the frequencies were 3.0 ± 3.3, 3.7 ± 3.5, and 4.7 ± 4.1, respectively. In the full sample, alcohol consumption was associated with physical activity, heart rate, fat mass, smoking, and mental distress. Most notably, each additional day of consumption was associated with a 0.54% (0.44–0.64) and 0.14% (0.09–0.18) increase in the probability of current smoking and mental distress, respectively. In each strata of ability (low, medium, high), estimates were 0.87% (0.57–1.17), 0.48% (0.31–0.66) and 0.49% (0.36–0.62) for current smoking, and 0.44% (0.28–0.60), 0.10% (0.02–0.18), and 0.09% (0.03–0.15) for mental distress, respectively.

Conclusions

Participants with low cognitive ability drink less frequently, but in this group, more frequent alcohol consumption is more strongly associated with adverse health characteristics.

Keywords

alcohol drinkingbehaviour and behaviour mechanismscardiovascular diseasesdrinking behaviour
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 48 , Issue 12 , September 2018 , pp. 2011 - 2022
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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