Alcohol Abuse Advice

Reduce The Risk Of Alzheimer?S Disease With Drinking In Moderation

Alzheimer’s disease is condition in which brain tissue degenerates. This leads to a decline memory and cognitive abilities. Alzheimer’s is the leading cause of dementia, which is a loss of social and intellectual abilities. The risk of developing this disorder increases with age. Although, this condition is not really considered to be a part of the normal aging process.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, as many as 5.3 million Americans have Alzheimer’s. This condition along with dementia is responsible for tripling the healthcare costs for seniors over the age of 65. Treatment of Alzheimer’s amount to more than 8 billion dollars annually. It is also the seventh leading cause of death.

There is no cure for Alzheimer’s; however, there are treatments that may help improve their quality of life. There is some promising news in that a study has shown moderate drinking can help reduce the risks of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Researchers found that people who drink wine, beer and liquor in moderation had lower dementia risks as compared to nondrinkers.

Generally, 1 drink or less a day for women and 1-2 drinks or less a day for men is considered moderate drinking. This study was conducted at the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. The researchers acknowledged that long-term alcohol abuse can be a health hazard. However, drinking alcohol responsibly and in moderation appears to have health benefits. They also warn that teens and pregnant women should not consume alcohol. Lastly, the researchers noted there are other methods of reducing the risk of dementia, including exercise, vegetables, beans, green tea, Mediterranean diets high in fruits, nuts and seeds.

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