American researchers found that older women who moderately consumed alcohol scored higher on tests of cognitive ability than non-drinkers. This shows that drinking a glass of alcohol every day helps prevent mental decline. This is the first time that studies have shown that moderate drinking of beer and wine is beneficial to the brain.
According to the latest issue of Nature, a research team composed of epidemiologists from the Harvard School of Public Health in the United States conducted a long-term survey of more than 12,000 women aged 70 to 81 years. The method of investigation included allowing respondents to name as many animals as possible in one minute, repeat a long list of numbers in reverse order, and remember information. The researchers compared the results of the first test of the respondent with the test results of the following two years and found that the average daily drinker had a 23% lower risk of mental impairment during the two years than the non-drinker, and the beer drinker The performance of wine drinkers is not significantly different.
Researchers speculate that the reason why moderate drinking is beneficial to the brain may be that drinking alcohol promotes cardiovascular function and improves blood circulation, thereby protecting the brain's cognitive abilities and preventing the occurrence of strokes with insignificant symptoms.