In a bit of a strange turn of events a new study indicates that drinking a modest amount of alcohol on a daily basis can reduce the risk of death in those who have been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
Of course, this is a preliminary result but researchers in the Danish study speculate that one reason for this finding could pertain less to what patients are drinking and more on the fact that alcohol is usually a social potable. After all, previous studies have shown that loneliness is associated with higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Inversely it has also been proven that an active social network can improve both the quality of length and the length of one’s life.
While the study certainly provides an intriguing strategy for Alzheimer’s prevention, it is definitely far from inclusive. For example, one study conducted at Wake Forest University, in 2009, suggested that moderate intake of alcohol—particularly wine—could, indeed, reduce risk for dementia by as much as 40 percent. On the other hand, a similar study conducted at the University of California-San Francisco suggests that older women who drink moderately were actually at a 60 percent higher risk for developing dementia.
Obviously, then, the new study—which has been published in the British Medical Journal, reinforces the potential health benefits of alcohol.
For the study, the research team looked at data or 321 patients who had been diagnosed with mild symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease; with data collected over a 3-year span as a part of the Danish Alzheimer’s Intervention Study. The study involved a series of questions which included inquiries regarding daily alcohol intake.
Of the 321 participants, the researchers found 71 percent had one or fewer alcoholic beverages a day; 17 percent had 2-3; 4 percent had at least four drinks; and 8 percent abstained from drinking. Over the 3-year period, 16.5 percent of these patients died.
Accounting for variables like gender, age, and underlying conditions (other than cognitive decline), the researchers concluded that 2-3 drinks per day actually resulted in a 77 percent lower risk of death when compared against 1 or fewer drinks per day.
In the study, the researchers conclude: “The results of our study point towards a potential, positive association of moderate alcohol consumption on mortality in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. However, we cannot solely, on the basis of this study, either encourage or advise against moderate alcohol consumption in [these] patients.”
