Investigated whether low to moderate alcohol intake is protective against cognitive decline in older adults. Participants were 5,804 people aged 70-82 in Ireland, the Netherlands, and Scotland who were randomized to pravastatin or placebo in the Prospective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk. Alcohol consumption was determined at study baseline. Serial measures of cognitive function over 3.2 years mean follow-up included MMSE, speed of information processing, and immediate and delayed memory. Forty-two percent of women and 71% of men were alcohol drinkers. Cognitive performance was better for female drinkers than nondrinkers for all cognitive domains over the follow-up; no significant effects were seen for men. The rate of cognitive decline was similar for drinkers and nondrinkers for all cognitive domains, except the MMSE, which declined significantly less in female drinkers than nondrinkers. It is concluded that drinking low to moderate amounts of alcohol may delay age-associated cognitive decline in older womem, but these apparent benefits were not clearly seen in older men. (SW) (AgeLine Database, copyright 2008 EBSCO Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved)