Alcohol improves the memory of the elderly
Researchers from the Universities of Texas, Kentucky and Maryland have found that moderate alcohol consumption by non-dementia sufferers over the age of 60 is associated with better episodic (event) memory and a large hippocampus volume.
Moreover, they demonstrated the existence of a relationship between moderate alcohol consumption and a large volume of the hippocampus – the region of the brain responsible for episodic memory.
The study used data on more than 660 participants in the Framingham Heart Study Offspring Cohort clinical trial. All of them filled out a questionnaire describing their demographic situation and the nature of alcohol consumption. In addition, they underwent a number of neuropsychological tests, as well as tests for the presence of a genetic predisposition factor to Alzheimer's disease APOE e4 and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain.
Analysis of the collected data showed that small and moderate alcohol consumption by elderly people is associated with better episodic memory – the ability to reproduce the details of events that occurred – and a large volume of the brain region responsible for it – the hippocampus. At the same time, the amount of alcohol consumed did not affect the quality of executive functions and the level of mental abilities.
The results of animal studies indicate that moderate alcohol consumption can contribute to maintaining the volume of the hippocampus by stimulating the formation of new neurons in this region of the brain.
In addition, exposure to a small amount of alcohol on brain tissue can stimulate the release of neurotransmitters involved in the processing and assimilation of information.
According to the authors, there were no significant differences between the level of cognitive functions and the volume of brain regions in the later stages of life, depending on the nature of alcohol consumption in middle age. Perhaps this is due to the fact that, compared with people who are forced to give up alcohol for medical reasons, their peers who have retained the ability to drink alcohol in old age are characterized by stronger health and, accordingly, better cognitive function and a larger volume of the hippocampus.
On the other hand, despite the potential positive effect of moderate alcohol consumption demonstrated by researchers on cognitive function and memory in old age, it is known that prolonged alcohol abuse causes irreparable damage to the brain.
Article by Brian Downer et al. Effects of Alcohol Consumption on Cognition and Regional Brain Volumes Among Older Adults is published in the American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias.
Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston:
If you’re over 60, drink up: alcohol associated with better memory.
23.10.2014