Alcohol is Good For Your Brain!
The clean-up crew in your noggin’ just might thank you for that drink.
Image: Andrea Ongaro/EyeEm/Getty Images
Does it sound too good to be true? Yes! Is it too good to be true? Apparently not!
According to a study published last week in Scientific Reports, alcohol—when consumed in moderation—is beneficial for your noggin’. This confirms the claims of, like, (almost) every old person who has ever been asked the question, What’s your secret?
Over the course of the study, which was conducted on mice, researchers explored the differences between high and low levels of alcohol consumption. While mice that were given large amounts of alcohol displayed increased inflammation of the brain and a decrease in both mental and motor function, mice that were given a low dose actually experienced a decrease in inflammation. Their mental and motor function remained the same.
The study also showed how moderate alcohol consumption can increase the efficiency with which cellular waste is removed from brain tissue—in particular, waste which is known to be associated with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
"Studies have shown that low-to-moderate alcohol intake is associated with a lesser risk of dementia, while heavy drinking for many years confers an increased risk of cognitive decline,” said Dr. Maiken Nedergaard, the study’s lead researcher, to ScienceDaily. “This study may help explain why this occurs. Specifically, low doses of alcohol appear to improve overall brain health."
The low dose given to the responsibly-liquored rodents was the human equivalent of 2.6 drinks per day for a 155-pound adult.
So next time you’re second-guessing yourself on that 3rd glass of wine, find a friend and split it down the middle, leaving you at an even 2.5 drinks. Your brain just might thank you.
Lookin’ to get your drink on? Try one of these classic cocktails or go for grape with these extra-special wine drinks.
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