Investigadores holandeses han observado en un grupo de 5.400 ancianos que aquellos que toman tres o más bebidas al día presentan menor riesgo de demencia, incluida enfermedad de Alzheimer, que los abstemios totales.
Sin embargo, pasarse de la raya conlleva perder el efecto protector del alcohol, pues los bebedores de 4 o más copas diarias presentan un riesgo de demencia similar o superior al de los abstemios.
Ya se habían publicado algunos estudios al respecto, y la mayoría han proporcionado resultados similares, indicando que el alcohol ejerce un efecto protector siempre y cuando su consumo sea moderado. Y no sólo sobre el riesgo de demencia, sino también sobre el cardiovascular.
Los autores del nuevo estudio, del Erasmus Medical Center de Rotterdam, especulan con que el alcohol ayuda a mantener el flujo de sangre en el cerebro reduciendo los niveles de colesterol.
Otra posibilidad acerca de su efecto beneficioso, según los investigadores, es que afecte de forma directa a la función mental a través de la liberación de acetilcolina en el cerebro, algo que se ha observado en animales de experimentación.
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The Lancet
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