Drinking Alcohol in Moderation Benefits Brain Functioning
Two recent medical studies have added to the evidence that drinking alcohol in moderation is associated with better cognitive or thinking ability.
Researchers in Australia studied 7,485 people age 20 to 64 years. They found that moderate drinkers (males who consumed up to 14 drinks per week and females who consumed up to 7) performed better than abstainers on all measures of cognitive ability.
Sex, race, education and extroversion-introversion all had an influence but failed to account for the findings.
References:
- Rodgers, B., et al. Non-linear relationships between cognitive function and alcohol consumption in young, middle-aged and older adults: The PATH Through Life Project. Addiction, 2005, 100(9), 1280-1290; Anstey, K. J., et al. Lower cognitive test scores observed in alcohol are associated with demographic, personality, and biological factors: The PATH Through Life Project. Addiction, 2005, 100(9), 1291-1301.
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