AzPete
Well-Known Member
Drink up! Alcohol may preseve memory in seniors
Katie Blalock
4:21 PM, Oct 24, 2014
27 mins ago
did you hear?
If you enjoy an occasional glass of wine or an ice cold beer, you may be doing yourself a favor.
New research suggests that if you are 60 years or older, drinking a moderate amount of alcohol daily may help preserve your memory. So cheers to that!
In the study, published in the American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias , researchers studied 662 people. They performed brain scans, and tested and measured their cognitive functioning.
This was no simple study—the research was extensive and prolonged. When the research began, the average age of participants was 42. When it ended, the average age was 75.
The study results showed that drinking in moderation was associated with better episodic memory. This means that if you are 60 or older and drink a light to moderate level of alcohol, you will likely remember specific events better.
How could this be?
In the study, MRI’s revealed that the moderate drinkers had greater hippocampal volume than those who didn't drink at all. This data supported the scientists’ theory that alcohol has the ability to preserve the hippocampus, which is associated with our memory.
But remember, when we say “light to moderate,” we mean one to three drinks a day. So letting Grandpa down a six-pack or constantly refilling Grandma’s wine glass isn’t the way to go.
So, drink up! Right?
Not so fast. The study showed the midlife alcohol intake didn’t affect memory or brain volume. So unless you’re over 60, drinking alcohol in moderation probably won’t improve your memory..
But, it takes a while to form a habit, right? So if you want to enjoy a daily cocktail, we won’t blame you.
Katie Blalock
4:21 PM, Oct 24, 2014
27 mins ago
did you hear?
If you enjoy an occasional glass of wine or an ice cold beer, you may be doing yourself a favor.
New research suggests that if you are 60 years or older, drinking a moderate amount of alcohol daily may help preserve your memory. So cheers to that!
In the study, published in the American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias , researchers studied 662 people. They performed brain scans, and tested and measured their cognitive functioning.
This was no simple study—the research was extensive and prolonged. When the research began, the average age of participants was 42. When it ended, the average age was 75.
The study results showed that drinking in moderation was associated with better episodic memory. This means that if you are 60 or older and drink a light to moderate level of alcohol, you will likely remember specific events better.
How could this be?
In the study, MRI’s revealed that the moderate drinkers had greater hippocampal volume than those who didn't drink at all. This data supported the scientists’ theory that alcohol has the ability to preserve the hippocampus, which is associated with our memory.
But remember, when we say “light to moderate,” we mean one to three drinks a day. So letting Grandpa down a six-pack or constantly refilling Grandma’s wine glass isn’t the way to go.
So, drink up! Right?
Not so fast. The study showed the midlife alcohol intake didn’t affect memory or brain volume. So unless you’re over 60, drinking alcohol in moderation probably won’t improve your memory..
But, it takes a while to form a habit, right? So if you want to enjoy a daily cocktail, we won’t blame you.
