The occasional tipple can delay the onset of dementia in women, a new study has found.

The University of Glasgow research suggests low to moderate alcohol intake improves the performance of the female brain while protecting against cognitive decline.

Almost 6,000 people aged 70 to 82 took part in the study, carried out in Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands.

Little difference was found between male drinkers and non-drinkers, but women who consumed between one and seven units a week scored significantly better than teetotal females.

For example, in a letter-and-digit coding test, non-drinkers scored 23.19, while low and moderate drinkers scored 24.50 and 24.44 respectively.

“Differences were seen across all cognitive domains, including global cognition, speed of information processing and verbal memory,” said David Stott, author of the study and professor of geriatric medicine at the university.

One of the tests analysed the ability of participants to remember 15 images immediately after being shown them, and again 20 minutes later.

Researchers found women who drank at least three units of alcohol per week scored consistently better than non-drinkers.

In addition to improving mental performance, Stott found alcohol consumption appeared to protect women from the age-associated cognitive decline that can lead to dementia — benefits that were not seen in the men studied.

One reason may be that men drink more than recommended in the guidelines, negating any positive effects. While previous studies have said wine in particular has protective qualities, Stott said spirits and beer also improve mental performance.

“The results of this study present a real challenge to the public health sector,” said Des O’Neill, consultant geriatrician at Tallaght Hospital in Dublin.

“It is difficult to encourage people to develop low to moderate alcohol consumption while not pushing them towards alcohol dependency. I think it’s important to work out what it is in alcohol that protects the brain, and then isolate it.”

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