Cheers! Three alcoholic drinks a day could stop you from developing dementia

Bottoms up, because a new study spanning over three decades has found that heavy drinkers are more likely to live to the age of 85 without dementia.

The study of the University of California, San Diego, found that over-65s who consume up to three alcoholic drinks every day are more likely to enjoy a healthy and happy retirement.

The study tracked the boozy habits of more than 1,000 middle-class white men and women in the state, and it’s the first to link longevity with alcohol intake.

As part of the study, the cognitive health of participants was assessed every four years over the course of the 29-year study, with a dementia screening test known as the ‘Mini Mental State Examination’.

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Dr Linda McEvoy, the lead author, said: ‘This study is unique because we considered men and women’s cognitive health at late age and found that alcohol consumption is not only associated with reduced mortality, but with greater chances of remaining cognitively healthy into older age.’

But while it seems like an excuse to enjoy a drink or two, there’s still a fine line – indulge in your favourite drink too often and you risk developing alcohol-related dementia.

McEvoy added: ‘It is important to point out that there were very few individuals in our study who drank to excess, so our study does not show how excessive or binge-type drinking may affect longevity and cognitive health in aging.’