Grant: Catalyst Grant: Analysis of CLSA Data - INMHA Mandate

Excessive alcohol use is a modifiable risk factor for dementia. The 2024 Lancet Commission on dementia prevention estimated that heavy alcohol consumption in midlife contributes to approximately 1% of dementia cases at the population level. Despite the rising prevalence of alcohol use among older adults, its impact on cognition in later life remains less well understood. Current Canadian drinking guidelines focus mainly on cardiovascular and cancer risks, with limited consideration of long-term effects on cognition and brain health. This highlights the importance of investigating alcohol-related cognitive outcomes in older adults, when patterns of use differ from midlife and risks may be amplified by age-related vulnerability. Using cross-sectional and longitudinal data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA), this project will examine how alcohol use in later life affects overall patterns of cognitive change (i.e. global cognition), and specific areas of cognition, such as memory and executive function (i.e. specific cognitive domains). The study will also assess whether these effects vary according to individual factors, including sex, physical health, and mental health status. Findings will generate new insights into the relationship between alcohol use and cognitive aging, with the potential to inform public health guidelines and strengthen dementia prevention efforts.