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A retrospective, population-based cohort study of driving under the influence, Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis, and survival

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 October 2018

Margaret Miller ,
Dennis Orwat ,
Gelareh Rahimi  and
Jacobo Mintzer
Margaret Miller
Affiliation:
University of South Carolina, Office for the Study of Aging, Arnold School of Public Health, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
Dennis Orwat
Affiliation:
Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
Gelareh Rahimi
Affiliation:
University of South Carolina, Office for the Study of Aging, Arnold School of Public Health, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
Jacobo Mintzer*
Affiliation:
Roper St. Francis Clinical Biotechnology Research Institute and the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Jacobo Mintzer, Roper St. Francis Clinical Biotechnology Research Institute and the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, 316 Calhoun Street, 5th Floor CBRI, Charleston, South Carolina 29401, USA; Phone: 843-367-4260. Fax: 843-724-2018. Email: jacobo.mintzer@rsfh.com.
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Abstract

Introduction:

The relationship between Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and alcohol addiction is poorly characterized. Arrests for driving under the influence (DUI) can serve as a proxy for alcohol addiction. Therefore, the potential association between DUI and AD could be helpful in understanding the relationship between alcohol abuse and AD.

Materials and methods:

A retrospective, population-based cohort study using state health and law enforcement data was performed. The study cross-referenced 141,281 South Carolina Alzheimer’s Disease Registry cases with state law enforcement data.

Results:

Of the 2,882 registry cases (1.4%) found to have a history of at least one DUI arrest, cases were predominantly White (58.7%) and male (77.4%). Results showed a correlation coefficient of 0.7 (p < 0.0001) between the age of first DUI arrest and the age of AD diagnosis. A dose-response relationship between the number of DUIs and age of AD onset was found to exist, where those with a history of DUI arrest were diagnosed an average of 9.1 years earlier, with a further 1.8 years earlier age at diagnosis in those with two or more arrests for DUI. A history of DUI arrest was also found to be negatively associated with survival after diagnosis, with a 10% decreased life expectancy in those with a DUI arrest history.

Conclusions:

Driving under the influence, a potential indicator of alcohol addiction, is associated with an earlier onset of AD registry diagnosis and shortened survival after diagnosis. This study contributes to the growing body of evidence suggesting that some cases of AD are alcohol related and, possibly, postponable or preventable.

Keywords

Alzheimer’s diseasedementiaalcoholalcohol-use disorderepidemiologydriving under the influence
Type
Original Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 31 , Issue 4: Issue Theme: Aging and Well-Being , April 2019 , pp. 571 - 577
Copyright
© International Psychogeriatric Association 2018 

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