Wine consumption, cognitive function and dementias – A relationship?

Healthy cognitive function is essential for quality of life, wellbeing and independent living, and is negatively associated with dementias. A series of longitudinal and neuro-imaging studies in the elderly have shown that light to moderate wine consumption is neuro-protective although heavy or abusive alcohol consumption is neuro-toxic. A J-shaped relationship between alcohol consumption, cognitive dysfunction and risk of dementias is also observed for younger and middle aged consumers. There is also no data to suggest that long-term light to moderate alcohol consumption exacerbates age-related cognitive decline and impairment. An optimal amount of wine for neuro-protection appears to be up to 30 g alcohol daily. There are multiple plausible biological mechanisms in various animal models, in vitro and in vivo for wine-derived phenolic compounds which go beyond their antioxidant activity and attenuation of oxidative stress.