Alcohol in low doses can benefit the brain

While excessive alcohol consumption is a well-documented health risk, a growing body of research suggests that alcohol in small amounts can benefit health – lowering the risk of disease b cardiovascular and some rych cancers. The findings, which re appeared in the pages of the journal „Scientific Reports” suggest that alcohol in small amounts can also promote the purification processes of m zgu.

– Long-term intake of excessive amounts of ethanol has adverse effects on the central nervous system, but – as we have shown in our research – low doses of alcohol are potentially beneficial to the health of m of the brain, namely improve the ability to m zgu to remove toxic waste – said Professor Maiken Nedergaard of the University of Rochester Medical Center.

Research conducted by the team ł scientists in focused on the glymphatic system. It is the cleansing system of m zg from toxins, which ry was first described in 2012 just by Nedergaard and her co LABOR. Syndrome ł under her direction described how the b fluid m zg-rays are pumped into the tissue of the m zg and flushes out waste products, including beta amyloid and tau proteins, which re are associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. The glimphatic system Also responsible for supplying the m zg in nutrients and proteins.

Another of her studies showed that the glymphatic system is active at night, during sleep, and removes waste produced throughout the day. This system can be damaged by a stroke m zgu or some sort of injury to it, but it can also be improved by exercise.

The new study, which re conducted on mice, looked at the effect of zar both acute and chronic exposure to alcohol.

When researchers studied m zgi animals exposed to high levels of alcohol for prolonged periods of time, observed inflammation, especially lnie in com rks called astrocytes, which re are key regulators of the glymphatic system. They noted Also impairs cognitive and motor skills of animals.

But animals, kt rim administered small amounts of alcohol (0.5 grams of alcohol per kilogram of body weight), showed a more effective effect of the glimphatic system in por In comparison to a control group of rodents, which ra was not exposed to alcohol in the og le. The system pressed liquid m zg and spinal more efficiently.

– Studies have shown that low to moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a lower risk of dementia, while consumption of alcohol in high doses and over many years results in an increased risk of cognitive and motor impairment – acknowledged Nedergaard. – In particular liness low doses of alcohol seem to improve og lne health m zgu – added.

Source Source: University of Rochester Medical Center, Business Insider, photo. myhobosoul/FLickr/CC BY-NC-SA 2.0