The health benefits of an occasional glass of wine just got another boost from science, as a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that a moderate intake of alcohol may reduce the risk of developing age-related dementia.

Evaluating alcohol use

For this analysis, US researchers assessed the drinking behaviors of several thousand men and women aged 65 and older. At several points during the study, the participants reported how much alcohol they consumed in a typical week, as well as how much alcohol they would drink at one sitting. They also completed tests designed to assess mental function and provided pertinent information on medical history and health habits.

From this original group, the researchers identified 373 patients who had been diagnosed with dementia over the course of the 7-year study and an equal number of participants without dementia. They then compared the two groups, looking for a trend between alcohol consumption and risk of dementia.

Difference noted between groups

They found that participants who consumed one to six drinks a week were only about half as likely to develop dementia when compared with those who did not drink alcohol. On the other hand, heavy use of alcohol - 14 or more drinks a week - was associated with a higher risk for dementia. The type of beverage consumed - beer, wine, or distilled spirits - didn't make any difference.

How alcohol may help

Numerous studies have focused on the potential health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption, and attention is usually focused on alcohol's apparent ability to slow the development of atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. Scientists speculate that the same kind of blood vessel damage that causes heart disease and stroke may be responsible for some types of dementia. Keeping blood vessels healthy and unobstructed, they reason, may help inhibit the changes in the brain that result in diseases like Alzheimer's.

Advice to consumers

As always, the message of this study comes with words of caution. The authors emphasize that older adults should not drink if they don't already do so in an attempt to sidestep age-related dementia, as the hazards of alcohol consumption outweigh the benefits for some people. This can be hard advice to follow, since a daily glass of wine for many adults would fall into the 'can't hurt, might help' category, but the authors reiterate that the use of alcohol is an issue best discussed between individuals and their own healthcare providers.