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Dr. Sam Gandy: “Moderate Drinking May Help Prevent Alzheimer's, Other Dementia”

  • HealthDay
  • New York, NY
  • (August 16, 2011)

Drinking moderate amounts of alcohol, especially wine, may lower the risk of dementia, according to a review of previous research. The study found that moderate drinkers were 23 percent less likely to develop dementia, Alzheimer's disease and other forms of "cognitive impairment," a phrase used to describe a decline in thinking skills. Heavy drinking (more than three to five drinks per day) was associated with a higher risk of dementia and cognitive impairment, but the researchers said this finding was not statistically significant. "This study was well-designed and well-executed but falls in the category of epidemiology [population wide, observational studies]," said Dr. Sam Gandy from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. "There are at least a dozen reports such as this, touting the beneficial neurological effects of alcohol." Learn more