Can Beer Lower the Risk of Dementia?

You can put this story into the optimistic or ‘glass half full’ category because although the headline is exciting, the research is at a very preliminary stage.

A group of scientists from Milan found that chemicals responsible for the ‘hoppy’ flavour in some beers appeared to limit the clumping of harmful proteins linked to Alzheimer’s. It was a basic lab experiment, but it indicates further research may be profitable. Needless to say, consuming alcohol comes with its own risks, and it is too early to recommend drinking beer to protect brain health. It’s also worth pointing out that these benefits are linked to particular kinds of beer, not beer in general.

Initial reports suggest the ‘hoppy’ chemicals may trigger or enhance autophagy. Autophagy is a process of cell survival and maintenance based on the recycling of cell components such as proteins.

Originally tweeted by Mind-training, meditation, health and happiness (@MeditateHealth) on November 11, 2022.

Author: Stephen

Neuropsychologist researching what happens when a spiritual practice (meditation) is translated to a psychological intervention; what is lost and what is gained from the curative potential? A PhD candidate writing the scientific history mindfulness. Also researching how compassion and explicitly nondual meditation methods influence our physical and mental health. Stephen has decades of personal practice in spiritual and secular forms of meditation, he has also been trained in the Himalayan Science of Mind and Perception (Tsema). Alongside the teaching and research of nondual methods, Stephen trains his own brain every day with Dzogchen practices. View all posts by Stephen

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