When it comes to protecting long-term brain health, most people think of exercise, puzzles, or a healthy diet. Two popular diets, the Mediterranean and DASH (Diet Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay), aim to prevent or slow brain decline. According to WebMD, “Early studies show that it lowers risk of Alzheimer’s by 53% in those who follow it closely and by 35% in those who follow it more loosely.”
An unexpected component in this diet is a popular alcoholic beverage that, if consumed in moderation, can help lower dementia risk. Here’s what the evidence reveals and why it might be time to rethink your drink of choice.
How does it work?
According to Web MD, several studies have shown that wine improves brain health and helps protect against Alzheimer’s. Red wine, in particular, contains compounds called flavonoids, which are present in many fruits and vegetables.
A sub-type of flavonoids is anthocyanins, which are “naturally produced pigments that give flowers their red, purple, and blue colour. “They’re predominantly found in the outer skin of berries and berry products like red wine,” reported Healthline.
Flavonoids are rich in antioxidant activity and can help your body ward off everyday toxins. The compounds are also related to decreased risks of dementia, depression, and hypertension.
However, the expert warned: “The key is moderation. Typically, that’s one glass a day for women and two for men. More than that can have bad effects on brain health and may make you more likely to get dementia,” said the health expert.
What evidence supports this?
A study in the American Academy of Neurology journal found that people who drank wine weekly or monthly were over twice as likely to avoid dementia.
Researchers tracked the alcohol habits of 1,709 Copenhagen residents in the 1970s and reassessed them in the 1990s, when they were 65 or older. Over 20 years, 83 developed dementia, and their drinking patterns were compared to those who did not.
However, the study is limited as eating habits and other lifestyle factors were not assessed. However, an editorial neurologist, John Brust, explained: “Research suggests that wine drinkers may have better dietary habits than beer and liquor drinkers. There is also evidence that dietary vitamin E may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
“These factors were not accounted for in this study. Nonetheless, this is a provocative report providing evidence that there is indeed something specifically beneficial about wine.”
Criticism
The head of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, Dr Sara Imarisio, said: “Understanding the different factors that affect our dementia risk is vital for finding new ways to reduce the number of people who develop the condition in the future.
“While the researchers found that those eating a diet with high levels of flavonoids were less likely to report memory and thinking problems, we should treat these results with caution.”
She continued: “Dementia is caused by a complex mix of age, genetics and lifestyle factors. From this study alone, we are unable to untangle diet or a specific food component from other lifestyle factors which contribute to dementia risk.”