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Background. Prevalence of cognitive decline and dementia is rising globally, with more than 10 million new cases every year. These conditions cause a significant burden for individuals, their caregivers, and health care systems. As no causal treatment for dementia exists, prevention of cognitive decline is of utmost importance. Notably, alcohol is among the most significant modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline. Methods. Longitudinal data across 15 years on 6,967 individuals of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe were used to analyze the effect of alcohol consumption and further modifiable (i.e., smoking, depression, and educational obtainment) and non-modifiable risk factors (sex and age) on cognitive functioning (i.e., memory and verbal fluency). For this, a generalized estimating equation linear model was estimated for every cognitive test domain assessed. Results. Consistent results were revealed in all three regression models: A nonlinear association between alcohol consumption and cognitive decline was found—moderate alcohol intake was associated with overall better global cognitive function than low or elevated alcohol consumption or complete abstinence. Furthermore, female sex and higher educational obtainment were associated with better cognitive function, whereas higher age and depression were associated with a decline in cognitive functioning. No significant association was found for smoking. Conclusion. Our data indicate that alcohol use is a relevant risk factor for cognitive decline in older adults. Furthermore, evidence-based therapeutic concepts to reduce alcohol consumption exist and should be of primary interest in prevention measures considering the aging European population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Alcohol is an important risk factor for morbidity and mortality, especially within the European region. Differences in per capita consumption and drinking patterns are possible reasons for regional differences and diverging trends in alcohol-related health outcomes. Methods Twenty-nine countries within the World Health Organization (WHO) European region were evaluated for trends and predictions in alcohol-related deaths within the last four decades using data available from the WHO Health for All database. Results Between 1979 and 2015, age-standardised death rates due to selected alcohol-related causes decreased significantly for both sexes in all assessed countries of the WHO European region, but regional differences are still pronounced. Assuming a similar trend in the future, the model predicted a further decrease until the year 2030. Conclusion Even though alcohol-related mortality may have decreased within the last decades, the detrimental effects of alcohol consumption and alcohol dependence remain a considerable burden of disease within Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Older adults exhibit heightened vulnerability for alcohol-related health impairments. Increases in the proportion of older adults within the European Union's total population and prevalence rates of alcohol use disorders in this age group are being observed. This large scale international study was conducted to identify those older adults with an increased risk to engage in hazardous drinking behaviour., Methods: Socio-demographic, socio-economic, personality characteristics (Big Five Inventory, BFI-10), and alcohol consumption patterns of 13,351 individuals from 12 different European countries, collected by the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe, were analyzed using regression models., Results: Age, nationality, years of education, as well as personality traits, were significantly associated with alcohol intake. For males, extraversion predicted increased alcohol intake (RR = 1.11, CI = 1.07-1.16), whereas conscientiousness (RR = 0.93, CI = 0.89-0.97), and agreeableness (RR = 0.94, CI = 0.90-0.99), were associated with a reduction. For females, openness to new experiences (RR = 1.11, CI = 1.04-1.18) predicted increased alcohol intake. Concerning excessive drinking, personality traits, nationality, and age-predicted consumption patterns for both sexes: Extraversion was identified as a risk factor for excessive drinking (OR = 1.15; CI = 1.09-1.21), whereas conscientiousness was identified as a protective factor (OR = 0.87; CI = 0.823-0.93)., Conclusion: Hazardous alcohol consumption in the elderly was associated with specific personality characteristics. Preventative measures, crucial in reducing deleterious health consequences, should focus on translating the knowledge of the association of certain personality traits and alcohol consumption into improved prevention and treatment.

Background: Suicide risk in patients is markedly elevated during psychiatric inpatient care, as well as after discharge. However, it is unclear whether, and to what extent, this increased suicide risk varies between sex. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze sex differences for suicides during and after psychiatric hospitalization in various countries., Methods: National suicide mortality rates and inpatient-related suicide rates (three intervals: during psychiatric inpatient treatment, 1 month, and 1 year after discharge) from 12 countries for 2000-2016 were analyzed, and a logistic model was used to quantify the effect of sex., Results: Persons admitted to or discharged from psychiatric inpatient care exhibited significantly increased rates of suicide compared to those in the general population. Furthermore, increase of suicide risk was significantly higher for females than for males for all investigated time intervals (inpatient suicide odds ratio [OR] 1.85; suicide within 1 month after discharge-OR 1.94; suicide within 1 year after discharge-OR 2.04)., Conclusion: Analysis confirmed the time during and after psychiatric inpatient care to be significantly associated with an elevated risk for suicide. Further, a significant sex effect was observed, with females in this population being at a proportionally higher risk for suicide during psychiatric inpatient treatment as well as the year following discharge. Our study implicates that more effective suicide preventive measures during inpatient stay, focusing on female patients, are needed.

Background: Previous research suggests significant increases in suicide mortality rates in European countries following the economic crisis of 2008. However, the relationship between national differences in availability and use of mental health services and suicide rates has not been extensively examined yet., Materials and Methods: Data on mental health services and socioeconomic variables were derived from Eurostat for the years 2000-2013 for ten European countries. The national health care variables consisted of suicide mortality rate (SMR), average length of hospital stay and number of hospitalizations due to affective disorder or any psychiatric disorder, number of psychiatric beds and number of prescribed antidepressants. Economic variables included the gross domestic product (GDP), the gross domestic product per 1000 inhabitants (Real GDP), the rate of unemployment and the GINI-coefficient as a measurement for the equality of wealth distribution. Mixed models were used to investigate the potential influence of the onset of the economic crisis in 2008 on each of the psychiatric variables. Multivariable regression analyses were used to assess the influence on suicide mortality rates., Results: In this study, a significant change in slope starting from 2008 was revealed for the number of psychiatric beds, hospitalizations due to affective disorder or any psychiatric disorder and for prescribed antidepressants. Furthermore, a significant step change for hospitalizations due to affective disorder was observed in 2008. SMR exhibited a significant step change in 2008 for males and females as well as a significant change in slope from 2008 onwards for males only. Contrary to our hypothesis, most variables showed no statistically significant influence on SMR. Only a higher number of available psychiatric beds was significantly associated with higher suicide mortality rates. This effect, however, was only significant for females and did not remain significant after correcting for economic variables. Less than 10% of suicide mortality rate variability could be explained by a model including all variables, further corroborating the multifactorial etiology of suicide., Limitations: Since administrative registry data was used, the results should be interpreted with caution. Results might not be applicable to countries not included., Conclusion: While significant changes in the psychiatric variables, as well as SMR, were observed, no statistically significant influence on SMR remained after correcting for country, time and economic variables. Our study suggests the necessity of a more comprehensive international data gathering effort. Further research is needed to identify populations at risk of suicide., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.)