| A.Melon 2005-05-06, 12:00 pm |
| Drinking alcohol boosts the growth of new nerve cells in the brain, research
suggests.
But while this might sound good in theory, the Swedish team believe these new
cells could contribute to the development of alcohol dependence.
Mice fed moderate quantities of alcohol grew extra brain cells, but also showed
a preference for alcohol over water.
The Karolinska Institute research appears in the International Journal of
Neuropsychopharmacology.
Brain growth
Lead researcher Professor Stefan Brene said: "We believe that the increased
production of new nerve cells during moderate alcohol consumption can be
important for the development of alcohol addiction and other long-term effects
of alcohol on the brain."
Alternatively, the extra cells might help with learning and memory, he said.
Another theory, according to the researchers, is that the tranquilising effect
of alcohol triggers the growth.
All of the new cells developed normally.
A spokeswoman from the Campaign for Real Ale said: "It is well known that
alcohol in moderation is good for your body so it's no surprise it's also good
for your mind.
"Maybe that is why lots of pub quiz teams are so bright."
A spokeswoman from Alcohol Concern said: "This type of study could prove useful
in the long term to shed light on the relationship between alcohol intake and
dependency.
"However, very little can be drawn from a single animal-based study at this
stage.
"Much more research is needed to explore the relationship between drinking
patterns and their effect on the human brain."
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