Brain power Moderation in everything is usually a good guideline to go by and new research from the University of Turku in Finland shows that in the case of reducing your risk of dementia, a few drinks is better than none or many.
Alcohol consumption has been a leading cause of death in Finland – in 2006, intoxication was a factor in nearly one in four accidental or violent deaths. While consumption has fallen slightly, the average Finn still consumes 10 litres of pure alcohol per year. But according to figures from the British Beer and Pub association (2008), Brits’ intake is nearly as high, at 8.9 litres per person, on average.
Previous research on the relationship between drinking and Alzheimer’s has had to rely on data from elderly subjects, whereas this study was able to follow people over a period from mid-life to 20 years later, giving a more accurate picture. What they found was that those who abstained from drinking completely, as well as those who binge-drank in mid-life, were more likely to show signs of cognitive impairment 20 years later. Binge drinking was defined as drinking a bottle of wine or the equivalent in beer/spirits in one session at least once a month. This kind of behaviour doubled the risk of cognitive impairment.
What Brits may not realise is that wines, in particular, have been getting stronger in terms of alcohol content in recent years. Some wines now contain 15% alcohol – compared to the more traditional 12.5%. That 2.5% can make a big difference over time. Now, however, most of the big supermarkets also stock low-alcohol wines. Check the wine label before you buy to be certain.
First published January 13, 2011