A Toast to Brain Power

You’ll want to raise your glass to the findings of a new study on alcohol consumption.

Researchers in Norway report that drinking alcohol, especially wine, was independently associated with better performance on cognitive tests.

The study followed 5,033 participants for seven years, administering a range of cognitive tests over the course of that period.

Moderate drinkers tended to fare better on the tests than those who drank lightly (less than once a week) or not at all.

A number of factors affecting cognitive function may play into these findings, the researchers note, such as lifestyle habits, income, and education level.

Wine drinkers, for example, may engage in healthier behaviors in general, including better diet and more exercise, than others.

Still, the results support other studies over the past three decades. Most of these studies indicate that light to moderate drinking is associated with higher cognitive function as well as reduced risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.

It has been suggested that alcohol may have a positive effect on cognitive function, protecting against conditions associated with aging and cognitive decline.

Don’t take this research as license to overindulge. As with just about everything, the key is moderation.

This weekend, though, you may want to relax with a glass of wine and drink to better brain power.

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