Light to Moderate Alcohol Drinking is Associated with Higher Cognitive Function in Males with Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

This study examined cognitive function in males with type 2 diabetes who drank light to moderate levels of alcohol in comparison to abstainers. Patients who abstained from alcohol use (Abstainer; N = 99) were compared to patients who were current drinkers (Drinker; N = 20) with respect to demographic, clinical, and cognitive variables. There were no significant differences between the Drinker and Abstainer groups in demographic and general clinical variables (p values > .05). After controlling for various potential confounding variables including age, education level, number of years diagnosed with diabetes, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), hypertension status, and depression, multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) showed that the Drinker group performed significantly better than the Abstainer group, specifically on three of five cognitive tests—Digit Span Backward, Digit Symbol, and Trail Making B (p values < .05). Our findings suggest that light to moderate alcohol consumption, up to two drinks per day, is associated with relatively higher cognitive function in males with type 2 diabetes.

The authors gratefully acknowledge thoughtful comments from Kenneth Leonard, PhD, on an earlier version of manuscript. They would also like to acknowledge Sharman M. Wilson for her editorial assistance.

Notes

Note. Values represent mean±SD or N (%).

∗p < .05; ∗∗p < .01.

Note. Between-group comparisons after controlling for age, education, number of years diagnosed with diabetes, HbA1c, hypertension status, and GDS score.