January 13, 2014

Drinking alcohol does not — as you were told for your own good — kill brain cells.

Scientists "meticulously counted neurons in matched samples of non-alcoholics and alcoholics" and found "no real difference in the density or overall number of neurons between the two groups."
[E]ven alcoholics who are continually taking in unhealthy amounts of alcohol aren't going to see brain cells die because of their drinking problem.
Copious drinking obviously has some harmful effects, but moderate drinking has benefits — including preserving cognition as a person ages — so look at the actual facts and make your own decisions.

And shame on those who make stuff up or outright lie because they're so concerned that we can't enjoy life's pleasures in moderation that they think it's best to scare us into doing nothing at all.

25 comments:

Peter V. Bella said...

Every day I drink my wine is a day I feel fine.

MadisonMan said...

The quoted study came out 21 years ago.

It's legal!

Rusty said...


And shame on those who make stuff up or outright lie because they're so concerned that we can't enjoy life's pleasures in moderation that they think it's best to scare us into doing nothing at all.

You mean like liberals?

Meade said...

"moderate drinking"

Definition?

Bob Ellison said...

"Propaganda" is a fascinating word.

Matt Sablan said...

Ugh. Another lie I will have to take efforts to unlearn.

FleetUSA said...

Amen. A bit of Vodka is useful.

JoyD said...

We LOVE our red wine with dinner. Every evening we open a bottle of our favorite food group. My mom often manages to slip in her advice that ONE glass is good for you. I'm 62. I think that is hilarious! but sweet of her.

Carol said...

It seems like most the advice we get from doctors and media is spun one way or another..if you tell the patient A then they are more/less likely to do B. They can't give you a straight answer lest you get the wrong takeaway. It's spin, spin and more spin.

Spin doctors.

Henry said...

Did the scientists test the hypothesis that alcoholics start off with much bigger brains?

Tank said...

Meade said...

"moderate drinking"

Definition?


Drinking that does not negatively effect your health or your life.

Sleighrides for the playoffs:

Brandy, Amaretto, Egg Nog, Vanilla Ice Cream, Nutmeg.

traditionalguy said...

BUT the study said that while they found no "dead " brain cells from alcohol, they had found dead dendrites from alcohol that no longer allowed the brain cells to communicate. OOPS!

Gary Kirk said...

Just wondering if this study may have been funded by the brewers, vintners, and distillers of the world?

According to the study there are some mental health positives to drink than not. I think I see a new marketing campaign on the horizon to those afraid of having some kind of mental impairment as they age...

"This is your brain without booze. Any questions?"

Eric the Fruit Bat said...

Nowadays, the definition of alcoholic seems to have been narrowed, in some circles, to include only those drinkers who experience physical symptoms of withdrawal.

My guess is that has something to do with narrowing the scope of condtions covered by medical insurance.

But I still think of myself as an alcoholic, and I'll continue to do so until they can pry the glass of booze from my cold, dead hands.

Russell said...

Of course Alcohol doesn't kill brain cells. That's what kids are for.

cubanbob said...

So the new breakfast recommendation will be an egg white omelet for choline, a Bloody Mary-vitamin C and followed by a cup of coffee after reading the morning paper. Also don't forget to take a vitamin B supplement.

ErnieG said...

Now after all these years, we learn that Cliff's Buffalo Theory is invalid:

“Well, you see, Norm, it’s like this. A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it’s the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members.

In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Now, as we know, excessive intake of alcohol kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine.

And that, Norm, is why you always feel smarter after a few beers.”

Anonymous said...

Winston Churchill, the most famous alcoholic I can think of. Want a drink to wake up your brain cells?

Larry J said...

ErnieG said...

Now after all these years, we learn that Cliff's Buffalo Theory is invalid:


Also known as the Darwinean Theory of Drinking - culling out the weak while going for that one dominent brain cell.

SomeoneHasToSayIt said...


It does kill livers, though. So there's that.

jacksonjay said...


But, but, but ..... science!

paul a'barge said...

And shame on those who make stuff up or outright lie because they're so concerned that we can't enjoy life's pleasures in moderation that they think it's best to scare us into doing nothing at all.

Banning E-cigarettes and Big Gulp drinks: NYC, Bloomberg, DeBlasio, the entire North East Lib-tard culture.

Michael K said...

Puritanism. The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.
H. L. Mencken

SJ said...

@Eric the fruit bat
Nowadays, the definition of alcoholic seems to have been narrowed, in some circles, to include only those drinkers who experience physical symptoms of withdrawal...

I thought Alcoholics went to meetings, but Drunks didn't.

Anonymous said...

I think nowadays it's popular to make Alcohol look much worse than it is in order to justify the consumtion of Marijuana.

There seems to be this idea that if one thing is bad and legal for us, then all things that are bad should also be legal. Otherwise, all things that are bad should be illegal.

I don't understand that line of thinking, but it is popular.