The dementia is a destructive set of symptoms associated with brain deterioration.
Contrary to popular opinion, it is not a direct result of aging. This means that there are ways to reduce the risk. With that in mind, a new study, published in the journal Addictioncame to a surprising conclusion: drinking beer can help.
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Australian researchers studied drinking habits and rates of dementia among 25,000 people over the age of 60.
The results showed that people who drank the equivalent of two pints a day were a third less likely to develop dementia than abstainers.
A marked reduction was also seen in participants who drank more beer, but experts involved in the study cautioned against excessive alcohol consumption.
To reach this conclusion, the team at the University of New South Wales collected data from 15 old studies.
They contained data on the drinking habits and dementia rates of 24,478 people over the age of 60.
The cohort was divided into nondrinkers, occasional drinkers (1.3 g of ethanol per day), light to moderate drinkers (1.3 g to 25 g per day), moderate to heavy drinkers (25 g to 45 g per day), and heavy drinkers. inveterate (more than 45 g per day).
To put the numbers into perspective, a pint of beer contains about 16 grams of ethanol, while a medium-sized glass of wine has about 18 g.
None of the participants, who were followed for up to 40 yearshad dementia at the start of the study.
Over the course of the study, 2,124 people were diagnosed with dementia.
Compared with abstainers, occasional and light-to-moderate drinkers were 22 percent less likely to develop the condition.
And those who consumed up to two and a half pints a day had a 38 percent lower risk of being diagnosed compared to non-drinkers.
Even heavy drinkers were 19 percent less likely to have dementia than those who didn’t drink alcohol.
When the researchers dug deeper into the association, drinking 40 g of ethanol per day, the equivalent of five units, was linked to a lower risk of dementia compared to those who never drank.
There are limitations in the study that need to be noted. The researchers said their data was robust and show the impact of alcohol consumption on dementia rates around the world.
However, they did note that alcohol intake was self-reported by participants, they are likely to underestimate their alcohol intake.
And the type of alcohol consumed was not recorded. Some studies have found that only certain beverages, such as wine, can protect against dementia.
Meanwhile, the data included few heavy alcohol drinkers, who are thought to be at increased risk of dementia.
To keep the health risks of alcohol low, the NHS advises both men and women to avoid regularly drinking more than 14 units a week.
Regular or frequent drinking means drinking alcohol on most days and weeks.
«The risk to your health is increased by drinking any amount of alcohol on a regular basis,» warns the NHS.