Here is something worth drinking.
A recently published study shows that while alcohol consumption is not necessarily healthy, there are some benefits associated with low to moderate alcohol consumption. However, that does not mean that there are no risks associated with alcohol consumption, even if it is not heavy or regular.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Georgia, California State University and the Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine, was published Monday by the JAMA Network. It focused on the relationship between low and moderate levels of alcohol consumption and cognitive function and rates of decline.
The researchers measured the cognitive functions of 19,887 participants between 1996 and 2008. The researchers found that low to moderate drinkers showed consistently high trajectories of cognitive function and had slower rates of decline compared to those who never drank.
Not surprisingly, excessive alcohol consumption is not associated with higher cognitive scores.
However, the researchers noted that their study relied on participants to report their own drinking habits. This could reportedly cause heavy drinkers to report themselves as moderate drinkers, as they tend to underestimate their alcohol consumption.
Of course, there are still risks associated with alcohol consumption, even moderate consumption.
A 2019 study found that moderate alcohol consumption can increase the risk of stroke by 10 to 15 percent. Heavy drinkers saw an increased risk of about 35 percent. Drinking can also have a negative impact on blood pressure, according to the study.
At the time, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 2.3 billion people worldwide drink alcohol, and the average drinker consumes the equivalent of a large bottle of beer every day.
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