"I grew up in the red wine-loving, " French Paradox" era of alcohol and health messaging, which told us that a little bit of alcohol was actually healthier than completely abstaining. In recent years, the tide has gradually been turning against the idea that moderate alcohol consumption is good for your health. One challenge was methodological. Many alcohol abstainers have quit for health reasons or because of past problematic drinking, making the better health of light to moderate drinkers a bit of a mirage."
"But knowing the potential for "sick-quitter" bias, the authors followed up with a Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis meant to better identify true cause and effect. Mendelian randomization, as the name implies, attempts to mimic an experiment based on the "random" draw of genes you get from your parents. Some people get a mix of genes that predict higher alcohol consumption in large genetic studies. In theory, whether you"
Data from more than 500,000 participants in the U.S. Million Veteran Program and the UK Biobank were analyzed for associations between self-reported baseline alcohol consumption and subsequent dementia diagnoses. Observational analyses reproduced a U-shaped association, with lowest dementia risk among low-to-moderate drinkers and higher risk among abstainers and heavy drinkers, but potential 'sick-quitter' bias was present. A Mendelian randomization analysis using genetic predisposition to higher alcohol intake showed increasing alcohol consumption associated with higher dementia risk and no protective effect of moderate drinking. The negative effect size for moderate consumption was small. Drink for enjoyment and safety, not perceived health benefits.
Read at Psychology Today
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