Alcohol Use Disorder as a Risk Factor for Cognitive Impairment

Background: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a worldwide problem. The AUD can take the form of hazardous drinking, binge drinking, or alcohol dependence. The effects of alcohol on cognition can be diverse and complex. Objective: Our study aimed to assess AUD as a risk factor for cognitive impairment. Methods: A literature search was conducted using major electronic databases of PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science. Abstracts were screened independently to include data from original research reports. The following keywords were used: alcohol abuse, cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia. In total, 767 abstracts were retrieved. After removing the duplicates, 76 articles met the criteria for full-text review, of which 41 were included in this report. Results: People with AUD are seen from different geographical areas and cultures. AUD is associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairments, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia, especially vascular dementia. In addition, AUD interacts with comorbidities increasing the risk of cognitive impairment. Conclusion: AUD is associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairments, which may have more than one underlying mechanism.