According to a recent study, drinking a moderate amount of alcohol
each day may reduce the risk of dementia in older women.
Researchers followed over 4,400 women, aged 65 to 79, for an average
of 4.2 years with annual Modified Mini-Mental State Examinations
(MMSE) -- a measure of cognitive function -- and other tests to
detect mild cognitive impairment and possible dementia. Findings
indicated women who drank one or more alcoholic drinks a day tended
to perform better on tests of cognitive function (focusing on memory,
language, concentration and abstract learning) than women who reported
drinking less.
Even when adjusting for factors such as education level and family
income, researchers still found moderate alcohol intake was linked
to better cognitive function and a decreased risk of dementia.
Suggested Reasons Why Alcohol Affects
Cognitive Function
-
May reduce the development of blood clots in the brain and
increase blood flow, improving cognition
-
Tends to increase levels of high-density lipoprotein, or "good"
cholesterol, which may reduce the risk for narrowed vessels
in the brain
-
May decrease the formation of plaque associated with Alzheimer's
However, despite discoveries researchers warn the results of the
study should be interpreted with caution: By no means do they encourage
people who don't drink to start, nor do they advise those who drink
less to increase their intake.
American Journal of Epidemiology February 1, 2005;161(3):228-38
Science Daily January 26, 2005
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