Healthy living
Mind matters
Wine slows mental decline
A drink a day may sharpen your wits and preserve your memory
Their study, published in the medical journal Neurology, looked at a group of 1445 volunteers between the ages of 65 and 84 and over a 3.5-year period noted any development of mild cognitive impairment.
Most cases of dementia are as a result of Alzheimer’s disease. It is not known why some people develop the condition while others do not.
Indulging in the odd glass of wine as you get older may slow mental decline and stave off the development of dementia, say scientists from the University of Bari in Italy.
Their study, published in the medical journal Neurology, looked at a group of 1445 volunteers between the ages of 65 and 84 and over a 3.5-year period noted any development of mild cognitive impairment.
They also followed a second group of 121 patients already suffering mild mental decline and monitored the progression to dementia. A year before the trials began the researchers gathered information about the drinking habits of all the volunteers.
The team found that alcohol consumption was not linked to the development of memory problems. In fact the patients with mild cognitive impairment who drank up to one alcoholic drink a day had an 85 percent lower risk of developing dementia than those who were teetotallers. Subjects who drank more than one drink a day did not reap the same mental health benefits.
The benefits were found with any alcoholic drink but wine appeared to be the most effective at staving off dementia.
‘The mechanism responsible for why low alcohol consumption appears to protect against the progression to dementia isn't known. However, it is possible that the arrangement of blood vessels in the brain may play a role,’ said the Italian research team.
Many people find that they become more forgetful as they get older and this is a normal part of the ageing process. Dementia is the most serious form of memory problem and it affects approximately one in 20 people after the age of 65. Most cases of dementia are as a result of Alzheimer’s disease. It is not known why some people develop the condition while others do not.
Top tips for maintaining mental agility
- Keep the brain active – mental exercises like crosswords and puzzles can help the mind stay sharp.
- Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables and oily fish like salmon and mackerel that contain mind-boosting omega 3 fatty acids.
- Physical exercise stimulates the brain and helps maintain overall well being.
- There is some evidence that supplements of folic acid may improve cognitive function.
- Ginkgo biloba is a herbal remedy and there is evidence that this may delay the progression of dementia in some people.
Information on this site is for interest only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult your own doctor about any specific health concerns.