Alcohol consumption and dementia prevention

Abstract

Alcohol leads to both negative and positive effects on the brain. An advantage of alcohol is that it may reduce the risk of the dementia. The relationship between alcohol consumption and the risk of incident dementia is however not clear. Many studies have demonstrated that alcohol consumption in mild to moderate level, compared with abstention, lowers the risk of dementia. Other studies however do not suggest such association. There are several mechanisms to describe the positive effects of alcohol consumption on the brain function. One to two drinks daily of alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, or liquor) could lower the risk of dementia. The types of alcoholic beverages are not significantly different in such association. In conclusion, it would seem that a mild to moderate level of alcohol consumption might be associated with a lower risk of dementia.