VIENNA, Austria—Moderate alcohol intake, especially wine, offers long-term cognitive protection and reduces the risk of dementia in middle-aged adults, according to a study presented at the Alzheimer's Association 2009 International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD 2009). It is not known if the association holds true for older adults or those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
"Our findings suggest mild to moderate alcohol intake may reduce the risk of dementia," one researcher said. "However, this does not appear to be true for those who already have mild cognitive impairment. Current recommendations not to exceed one drink per day for women and two for men are supported by these results."