Association Between Alcohol Consumption, Cognitive Abilities, and Neuropathologic Changes: A Population-Based Autopsy Study.

Moderate, heavy, and former heavy alcohol consumptions were associated with hyaline arteriolosclerosis and neurofibrillary tangles. Former heavy alcohol consumption was associated with reduced brain mass and cognitive abilities. The association between alcohol and cognitive abilities was fully mediated by hyaline arteriolosclerosis. The lack of longitudinal data on alcohol consumption duration restricts the interpretation of our findings.