A new study on red wine shows that it enhances memory.
Previously, research has shown that drinking red wine in moderate amount has good effect on health.
This small pilot study by researchers at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany, found that resveratrol - a compound found in red wine and dark chocolate - improves short-term memory and boosts concentration.
For the study, the researchers conducted tests on 46 overweight but healthy participants. Of these, 24 participants were randomly told to take 200 milligrams of resveratrol daily for six months. The remaining respondents were given placebo. Resveratol is a compound in red wine known for its possible healthful and anti-aging effects
Prior to and post the study, researchers conducted tests on the participants to find out about their memory. Blood samples and brains of the participants were scanned using functional magnetic resonance imaging, which measures changes in blood flow as a proxy for brain activity.
The study results showed that people who received the supplement had significantly better memories than those in the placebo group.
Researchers explained that participants in the supplement group were significantly better at recalling words seen 30 minutes earlier. Brain scans showed that those in the supplement group also showed more connections in the brain regions linked to memory.
"From a clinical point of view, our findings suggest that regular, high-level intake of resveratrol in the elderly may convey protective effects on cognitive functions, a hypothesis that now needs to be evaluated in large-scale clinical trials," said Veronica Witte, a neuroscientist and the study researcher, to Live Science.
Recent study on the benefits of red wine shows that it can help prevent cavities. The study found that polyphenols, grape seed extract and wine can slow down bacterial growth. Researchers then had said that the findings might lead to the making of natural products that protect against dental diseases with fewer side effects.
