Posted on 08/04/2005 10:01:34 AM PDT by CarrotAndStick
It is guaranteed to raise a cheer among those who enjoy a tipple: moderate drinkers are better hinkers than teetotallers or those who overindulge, says a report in the Guardian.
Research by the Australian National University in Canberra suggests drinking in moderation boost your brainpower. But none at all, or too much, can make you a dullard.
A study of 7,000 people in their early 20s, 40s and 60s found that those who drank within safe limits had better verbal skills, memory and speed of thinking than those at the extremes of the drinking spectrum. The safe consumption level was considered to be 14 to 28 standard drinks a week for a man and seven to 14 for a woman. Questions ranged from verbal reasoning problems to tests of short-term memory.
http://info.anu.edu.au/mac/Media/Media_Releases/_2005/_August/_020805Path1.asp
Tuesday 2 August 2005
ANU media release
Media Office | Media Releases | News & Events
Moderate drinkers end up better thinkers
Moderate drinkers have been found to be better thinkers than heavy drinkers and those who do not drink at all, according to ANU research.
In a study of more than 7000 people aged 20-24, 40-44 and 60-64, participants were asked about their alcohol use, and to perform a series of tests to measure cognition - verbal skills, memory and speed of thinking.
ANU researchers Dr Kaarin Anstey and Dr Bryan Rodgers found that people who had drunk moderate amounts of alcohol (14-28 standard drinks a week for men and 7-14 standard drinks a week for women) performed significantly better than those who were heavy drinkers (over 28 and 14 standard drinks for men and women respectively) and those who rarely or never drank. This relationship was found in participants in their 20s, 40s and 60s.
In articles published online in the journal Addiction the researchers outlined some of the reasons for the disparity.
“We found that people who did not drink were more likely to have poorer mental and physical health, less education, and poorer lifestyles,” Dr Anstey said. “However, these factors are not sufficient to fully explain the results and further research is required to obtain a clearer picture of exactly what this means for our thinking abilities.”
Dr Rodgers said: “This does not necessarily show that moderate alcohol use is good for our brains - there may be other reasons that we haven’t measured to explain the poor performance of non-drinkers.”
Their findings are the latest from the PATH Through Life project, a 20-year study of change in thinking and mood as people age, which was initiated by the ANU Centre for Mental Health Research in 1999.
Other findings from the project have included:
· Strong associations between childhood adversity and adult depression. Factors most strongly related to depression include: mother’s depression, reports of neglectful upbringing, too much physical punishment, having an unaffectionate father, and experiencing a lot of family conflict.
· Bisexual people tended to suffer more from anxiety, depression and suicidal tendency than homosexual or heterosexual study participants.
· Young Australian adults are the least likely to obtain GP care, compared to other age groups - despite evidence of significant mental health problems, such as tendencies towards suicide and substance abuse. The study found that those who used GPs were most likely to be female, to have been or be undertaking higher education and to be living with children. Young adults were also identified as having poorer physical health, more chronic diseases and higher levels of suicidal ideation when regularly using marijuana.
· Elevated symptoms of depression, anxiety and negativity were related to levels of tobacco consumption and marijuana use for both young men and women.
Dr Anstey was recently awarded the The Margret M. Baltes Early Investigator Award in Behavioral and Social Gerontology from the Gerontology Society of America in recognition of her outstanding early career contribution to gerontology.
Further Information
Amanda Morgan
Media Liaison
Tel: 02 6125 5575 / 0416 249 245
Email: Amanda.Morgan@anu.edu.au
I can hink with the best of 'em.
Of course, there are some (like Ted "Swimmer" Kennedy) who seem to think that more is better, and we know that isn't the case ;-)
I hink I'll pop open bottle when I get home.
Wow. That many drinks a week is considered moderate?
I MUST be getting old...I don't think I've ever drunk that much in an average week. :)
That's it...I'm getting senile...guess I'd better go out and get a case of Corona to boost my brainpower! LOL
14-28 a week! That is up to 4 a day! And it will make me more verbal?
What till the wife hears this!
I've always < hic> I've always < burp > I've always said thissssss.
I'll drink to that!
Doh!
What = Wait.
more verbal != better speller
Probably metric units. Remember, the article is from Australia.
It figures this study came from Australia.
Old news:
Well you see, Norm, it's like this...A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Now, as we know, excessive intake of alcohol kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. And that, Norm, is why you always feel smarter after a few beers.
-Cliff Claven from Cheers
LoL! Great pics, gotta save 'em!
Their safe consumption level is more liberal than my doctors. I like them better, too. they don't prod me about my triglyceride level.
Being an alcoholic takes real mental stamina and discipline!
And that's coming from experience!
"Probably metric units. Remember, the article is from Australia."
In Australia the 'standard drink' is a pint, right? How many oz's in a pint? Gotta be a couple 100 at least, right?
A pint is 16 ounces.
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