Folk sayings about the harm of drinking did not arise from nothing – immoderate consumption of alcohol destroys our body, however, it can be said about immoderate consumption of any other foods and drinks. And vice versa – regular and moderate consumption of alcohol has a positive effect on brain activity!

A paper published in 2005 in The New England Journal of Medicine tested the relationship between alcohol consumption and brain activity in 4,272 men and 1,761 women over 11 years. Brain activity was tested using a variety of tests, including memory tests and special sound and word exams. The study found a link between moderate alcohol consumption and brain activity in adults.

Participants in the research who consumed small amounts of alcohol each week performed better on a test of brain activity compared to those who consumed no alcohol at all or occasional alcohol.

In a study published in January 2005, brain activity scores were determined in 11,000 women between the ages of 71 and 80. There were higher brain activity scores for those who consumed 15 grams of alcohol daily compared to those who did not drink at all. The results were similar between different types of alcohol: beer, wine and others. As a result, scientists concluded that drinking one dose of alcohol daily has a positive effect on brain activity.

In the past, alcohol consumption was associated only with a negative impact on the human brain – increasing the risk of various diseases, including atrophy and dementia. Modern research proves that moderate consumption of beer and other alcoholic beverages does not increase the risk of these diseases.

The research also looked at a possible link between drinking different types of alcohol and Alzheimer’s disease in 900 people aged 65 and above. No association was found between alcohol consumption and the risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease. In contrast, drinking up to 3 servings of wine a day reduced the risk of the disease.

In the light of the above scientific papers, it can be concluded that moderate beer consumption does not increase the risk of dementia. The style of beer consumption also matters – regular beer consumption throughout the week improves health. Episodic consumption of alcohol in large doses has the opposite effect.

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