October 25, 2012

Study finds moderate consumption decreases number of new brain cells




Rutgers Researchers Say Daily Drinking Can Be Risky

Study finds moderate consumption decreases number of new brain cells

Drinking a couple of glasses of wine each day has generally been considered a good way to promote cardiovascular and brain health.  But a new Rutgers University study indicates that there is a fine line between moderate and binge drinking – a risky behavior that can decrease the making of adult brain cells by as much as 40 percent.

In a study posted online and scheduled to be published in the journal Neuroscience on November 8, lead author Megan Anderson, a graduate student working with Tracey J. Shors, Professor II in Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience in the Department of Psychology, reported that moderate to binge drinking – drinking less during the week and more on the weekends – significantly reduces the structural integrity of the adult brain.