Study suggests wine in moderation helps keep the brain clear of toxins

Wine has long been touted as an elixir for the soul, but it turns out it may do some good for the brain too.

According to recent research led by the University of Rochester Medical Center, it can help rid the brain of toxins, including those linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

The team discovered this by giving mice set amounts of alcohol over time.

The ones that hit the bottle hard suffered for it, losing full command of their motor and cognitive skills; however, the group consuming the equivalent of about 2 and a half drinks per day appeared to experience brain benefits.

Particularly notable was the boost in the functioning of the glymphatic system, which cleans the brain by pumping cerebral spinal fluid, or CSF, through it.

According to a university release, the moderate-drinking rodents “actually showed less inflammation in the brain and their glymphatic system was more efficient in moving CSF through the brain and removing waste, compared to control mice who were not exposed to alcohol.”

“The low dose animals’ performance in the cognitive and motor tests was identical to the controls,” it further noted.

“Studies have shown that low-to-moderate alcohol intake is associated with a lesser risk of dementia, while heavy drinking for many years confers an increased risk of cognitive decline,” Maiken Nedergaard, one of the researchers, commented. “This study may help explain why this occurs. Specifically, low doses of alcohol appear to improve overall brain health.”