Glass of wine for the brain?

Health studies are constantly being completed. The results are sometimes even surprising. This Spanish study links a delay in Alzheimer's disease to moderate drinking in women. The study took into lifestyle considerations while performing the research. Results were conclusive with the alcohol consumption benefiting nonsmoker women the most.

"Our results suggest a protective effect of alcohol consumption, mostly in non-smokers, and the need to consider interactions between tobacco and alcohol consumption, as well as interactions with gender, when assessing the effects of smoking and/or drinking on the risk of Alzheimer's disease," the study's lead author, Ana M. Garcia, from the University of Valencia's department of preventive medicine and public health, said in a news release.

This seems odd when initially thinking about the issue, but not really. Drinking effects the brain's function (ever had a conversation with a rational drunk?) and specially the chemistry. The study's authors point this out.

"Interactive effects of smoking and drinking are supported by the fact that both alcohol and tobacco affect brain neuronal receptors," Garcia explained.

The take home message from this study is scientists may know quite a few things about the human body, but a significant amount of study could still be completed on the things we don't know. The medical field has much to learn and research should be heavily funded.