Background: Consumption of alcohol and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are commonly considered modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline. However, conflicting evidence exists as to the beneficial or detrimental impact of light and moderate alcohol consumption, and little is known of the differential impacts of beverage consumption patterns on cognitive function. Socioeconomic status (SES) is also known to be an influential factor; however, the influence of SES on these relationships is unclear.
Methods: An online, cross-sectional survey, including an assessment of 5 domains of cognitive function and a food frequency questionnaire, was conducted in 128 healthy adults between 18 and 70 years of age. Bivariate and multivariable linear regression models were used to investigate the relationships between SES, dietary behaviours, and cognitive function.
Results: SES was the greatest predictor of cognitive function. Bivariate analysis found that light to moderate alcohol consumption showed greater cognitive functioning than heavy and/or abstinent drinkers for global cognition, attention, and perception. When controlling for SES, light to moderate consumption had no advantage over abstinence; abstinent and light to moderate alcohol use were both superior to heavy alcohol use in attention, perception, and global cognition measures. Drinking most days or every day was associated with lower performance on attention and perception tests. Greater dose of SSB was associated with lower perception scores. No relationship between education and SES was found.
Conclusion: SES is a significant predictor of adult cognition, independent of certain dietary behaviours. Findings indicate that larger amounts of beverage consumed may be more detrimental to cognitive health than frequency of consumption. Studies that identified cognitive benefits of moderate alcohol consumption commonly control for education only, which our current findings suggest may be an inappropriate indicator of SES.