I think I need a drink

Medical experts have debated the pros and cons of moderate alcohol consumption for years, but a new study reveals that moderate drinking in older women can improve mental function.

The study, headed by researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, discovered that women who drank up to three alcoholic drinks a day had better cognitive function than their non-drinking counterparts. These women possessed better language, memory, learning, abstract reasoning, and most notably, verbal skills.

“Findings from this large and diverse group of older women suggest that moderate levels of alcohol intake are associated with some benefit to overall cognition and that the benefit appears strongest in areas of verbal function,” said Dr. Mark Espeland, the lead author of the study.

However, the results of this study must be interpreted with caution. All of the 7,640 women studied were 65 or older. If you are a woman over 65, consider this information before changing your drinking pattern.

First, you should never consume an alcoholic beverage if you are on medication that prohibits you from doing so or if your doctor rules against it.

However, if you are free to enjoy a glass of wine every now and then, you just might enjoy its benefits as time progresses. While the study revealed the improved mental function in older women who consume alcohol, it also helped researchers pinpoint exactly what mental processes are improved.

Alcohol could increase levels of good cholesterol, lower the risk of stroke, decrease levels of plaque that cause Alzheimer’s disease and increase levels of brain chemicals that affect learning and memory.

Don’t change your drinking pattern just yet — at least not until scientists do more research on their findings. However, an increasing amount of evidence suggests that you just might benefit from a few drinks a day.