Regular Drinkers Less Likely to Have Dementia

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People who drink moderately on a regular basis have a better chance of reaching the ripe old age of 85 free of dementia and other age-related cognitive impairments, according to a study led by the University of California San Diego School of Medicine.

While other studies have found an association between drinking alcohol and longevity, the new study examined drinking’s link with cognitive health in old age.

“This study is unique because we considered men and women’s cognitive health at late age and found that alcohol consumption is not only associated with reduced mortality, but with greater chances of remaining cognitively healthy into older age,” said senior author Linda McEvoy, Ph.D.

Researchers found that among men and women 85 and older, those who consumed “moderate to heavy” amounts of alcohol five to seven days a week were twice as likely to be cognitively healthy than non-drinkers. Cognitive health was assessed every four years over the course of the 29-year study, using a standard dementia screening test.

“This study shows that moderate drinking may be part of a healthy lifestyle to maintain cognitive fitness in aging,” said lead author Erin Richard. “However, it is not a recommendation for everyone to drink. Some people have health problems that are made worse by alcohol, and others cannot limit their drinking to only a glass or two per day. For these people, drinking can have negative consequences.”

The study was published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

For those who do not drink, studies have shown that other lifestyle choices can help keep aging brains healthy. A long-term study at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine found that seniors who danced regularly showed a 67 percent reduction in the risk of developing dementia.

A diet rich in healthy oils is also essential. Researchers at Rhode Island Hospital found that the brains of older adults who took fish oil, which contains omega-3 fatty acids, suffered significantly less cognitive decline and brain shrinkage when compared to those who didn’t take fish oil.

Another study found that a substance in olive oil called oleocanthal helps decrease the accumulation of beta-amyloid in the brain — the abnormal proteins that clump together and cause memory loss. Researchers found that oleocanthal increased the protection of two proteins and key enzymes that are critical in removing beta-amyloid from the brain.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, a form of dementia, and the number may triple by 2050.