Wine & Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease is characterized by a degeneration of brain functioning and is the most common cause of dementia, according to the Mayo Clinic. Wine has been found to contain significant amounts of healthy antioxidant compounds that may be helpful to those with Alzheimer's Disease.
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History
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Wine drinking is a common daily practice among many Mediterranean cultures, including France and Italy. In a study conducted at the Universite de Bordeaux, France, in April 1997, researchers found that moderate wine drinkers--those who drank three to four glasses per day--over the age of 65 did not have higher rates of Alzheimer's or dementia, even though alcohol is known to be a contributing factor in these disorders.
Function
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Red wine contains an antioxidant compound called resveratrol, according to the Mayo Clinic. Resveratrol has been found to be helpful in protecting the lining of blood vessels from damage and may be useful in reducing high cholesterol and improving heart function, among other things.
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Effects
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In a study published in November of 2005 in The Journal of Biological Chemistry, Resveratrol was found to break down an enzyme called amyloid-β that is believed to be implicated in the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
Considerations
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Resveratrol is also found in grape skins and other foods, like cranberries and peanuts, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Warning
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Drinking too much alcohol, including red wine, can lead to high blood pressure, liver damage and certain kinds of cancer, according to the Mayo Clinic.
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References
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of rdesai
