Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40871716›Full record

ArticleNutrients2025

Moderate Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Depression: A Longitudinal Analysis in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Mohammadreza Mohebbi, Najmeh Davoodian, Shiva Ganjali, Lawrence J Beilin, Michael Berk, Malcolm Forbes, John J McNeil, Mark R Nelson, Joanne Ryan, Rory Wolfe and 2 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Nutrients, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Mohammadreza MohebbiBiostatistics Unit, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-9713-7211
Najmeh DavoodianDeakin University, IMPACT-The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine-Barwon Health Geelong, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia.
Shiva GanjaliDeakin University, IMPACT-The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine-Barwon Health Geelong, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-7446-3927
Lawrence J BeilinSchool of Medicine, Royal Perth Hospital, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6000, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-4853-7360
Michael BerkDeakin University, IMPACT-The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine-Barwon Health Geelong, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia.
Malcolm ForbesDeakin University, IMPACT-The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine-Barwon Health Geelong, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia.
John J McNeilSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-1049-5129
Mark R NelsonMenzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-9941-7161
Joanne RyanSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-7039-6325
Rory WolfeSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia.
Robyn L WoodsSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-1249-6149
Mojtaba LotfalianyDeakin University, IMPACT-The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine-Barwon Health Geelong, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia.

Funding

ASPirin in Reducing Events in the ElderlyU01AG029824 · NIA · HENNEPIN HEALTHCARE RESEARCH INSTITUTE · PI MCNEIL, JOHN JAMES, MURRAY, ANNE M · 2009 to 2018
$64.6M
NIA NIH HHS U01 AG029824
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesEvidence suggests a J-shaped association between alcohol consumption and depression, but it remains unclear whether this reflects a true causal effect, reverse causation, or methodological bias. This uncertainty is particularly relevant in older adults, who are at increased risk for both depression and alcohol-related harms. This study aimed to examine the association between varying levels of alcohol consumption and depression risk in community-dwelling older adults.

methodsWe analyzed 16,563 community-dwelling older adults (mean age 75.1 ± 4.6 years) from the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) trial. Alcohol intake, reported at baseline and follow-up, was categorized as abstinent, occasional, moderate, or above-guideline. Both intention-to-treat (classified by baseline alcohol consumption, regardless of later changes) and per-protocol (using annual time-updated alcohol consumption ) analyses were performed. To address confounding, informative censoring, and selection bias, we applied marginal structural models with inverse probability weighting.

resultsIn per-protocol analyses, abstainers (OR 1.17), occasional drinkers (OR 1.11), and above-guideline drinkers (OR 1.15) were significantly associated with a higher risk of depression compared with moderate drinkers, consistent with a J-shaped association. Sensitivity analyses excluding former drinkers and those with baseline depressive symptoms showed similar results. The association remained robust after adjusting for social isolation, social support, social interactions, physical activity, pain, sleep duration, sleep difficulties, and sleep medication use (

conclusionsModerate alcohol consumption was associated with the lowest depression risk, confirming a J-shaped relationship after comprehensive confounder adjustment.

Indexed as

Alcohol DrinkingDepressionIndependent LivingAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleRisk Factorsalcohol consumptioncausal inferencedepressionmood disordersolder adults

Identifiers

PMID40871716
PMCPMC12389151

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.