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I knew this already, so I started early....
We'll drink to that: alcohol keeps the mind perky in old age
November 5, 2005
Older people with a history of moderate drinking may suffer less mental decline
than those who do not drink, a new study suggests.
The study, carried out by the Western Psychiatric Institute in the US, was based
on data collected from more than a thousand people in Pennsylvania, aged 65
years and older, over a period of seven years.
"Health professionals have generally paid more attention to alcohol abuse and
dependence, and their adverse consequences," said the study's author, Dr Mary
Ganguli. "Our study suggests we should also consider the potential benefits of
more modest patterns of alcohol use."
The study's participants, none of whom showed signs of dementia at the start of
the study, were divided into three groups: one that did not drink; one that
reported minimal drinking - once a month or less; and a third group that
reported moderate drinking.
The study participants' mental function was assessed at the start of the study,
then with periodic assessments every two years.
Overall, those classified as minimal and moderate drinkers exhibited less
decline in their scores on tests that measured general mental status, executive
functions and psychomotor speed, than non-drinkers.
Minimal drinkers also showed less decline in their scores on tests of learning,
including learning a word list, and naming, than non-drinkers.
Potential reasons for the benefits of moderate drinking may be related to its
cardiovascular effects, Dr Ganguli explained. It may also have a beneficial
effect on the brain's neurotransmitters, or chemical messengers.
Despite the findings, Dr Ganguli insists the study "should not be interpreted as
recommending initiation … of alcohol consumption to preserve mental functioning
in the elderly."
She added: "What is needed now is not for people to run out and get drunk in the
hope of preserving their brains, but for more studies to be conducted on the
precise effects of alcohol on brain structure and function."
Previous studies have pointed to the benefits of moderate drinking - for
instance, the beneficial effects on the heart from drinking red wine.
Reuters