The benefits of a bit of booze

Finally, something to raise a glass to: A new study suggests that drinking in moderation can be beneficial to the brain. Previous research on this issue has produced mixed results, reports The Times (U.K.). The latest study followed nearly 20,000 people, either middle-aged or older, for an average of nine years, regularly testing them for mental status, word recall, and vocabulary. Compared with teetotalers, those with “moderate” drinking habits—classified as up to eight drinks a week for women and fewer than 15 for men—had higher cognition scores in all three areas. They also had significantly lower rates of mental decline. The study didn’t prove cause and effect, but the findings appear to add to research suggesting that small amounts of alcohol can have a positive effect on the brain’s small blood vessels. Lead author Ruiyuan Zhang, from the University of Georgia, says teetotalers shouldn’t see this as a reason to start drinking. But he says drinkers should “feel free to enjoy a little bit of alcohol.” ■