Tales of the Heliosphere

It turns out the health benefit of drinking alcohol has its limits. Although moderate drinking has cardiovascular benefits, it apparently doesn't do much good for the brain. Duh, you might say. Well, it's not just short-term stupidity while under the influence that's the problem. No, some scientists, who never should have gotten grant money, have discovered some bad news about alcohol.

"The more alcohol an individual drinks, the smaller his or her total brain volume, according to a new report."

That's the bad news. There's a small bit of good news for those of us blessed with a Y chromosome.

"Although men were more likely to drink alcohol, the association between drinking and brain volume was stronger in women, they [the scientists] note. This could be due to biological factors, including women's smaller size and greater susceptibility to alcohol's effects." (Here.)

One question not answered anywhere in the story. Just how big a brain does a person really need, anyway?

-tdr

Labels: Alcohol, Health