Finally a USA TODAY report on drinking staving off the effects of dementia. From the May 22, 2007 edition:
The story headlines that "Imbibing may slow dementia in seniors."
 
It seems that an Italian study revealed that drinking up to one alcoholic drink a day may actually slow the development of dementia, including Alzheimer's, in seniors who already have mild memory problems. Alzheimer's is a progressive brain disease that afflicts 5 million people in the USA. This latest study is by Italian researcher Vincenzo Solfrizzi. And he reports that this is the first study to suggest that an alcoholic drink a day might just help people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition that often precedes Alzheimer's, to reduce the effects of Alzheimer's.
Solfrizzi's study appears in today's Neurology. Wine, particularly red wine, contains natural chemicals called polyphenols that could protect the aging brain from Alzheimer's. However, the exact type of alcohol is not researched.
In this study, the Italian team actually reported on the study of 1,445 healthy adults 65 and older and 121 who already had been diagnosed with MCI. Sofrizzi is a geriatrician at the University of Bari in Italy.
USA Today reports that the study showed that people who already had MCI at the start of the study appeared to gain some protection from additional memory loss. The report found that drinking just half a glass of wine or less than a beer or some other kind of alcoholic drink a day seemed to decrease the rate of progression from MCI to full dementia, including Alzheimer's. Now THAT is news for those of us who enjoy imbibing occasionally.
More good news from other research is that moderate drinking -- one or even two glasses of wine a day -- just might help stave off dementia and other ailments such as clogged arteries and heart disease. This was reported by Gary Small who is director of the University of California-Los Angeles Center on Aging.

Following this report is the usual disclaimers that warn against drinking to excess and to warn those who are not used to drinking against taking up the exercise for health reasons, as falling and other alcohol related calamities might ensue.

Here are some of the 10 warning signs for an Alzheimer's type dementia:
 
*Severe memory loss.
*Difficulty doing familiar tasks.
*Problems talking or writing.
*Confusion about the time or place.
*Loss of judgment.
*Problems with abstract thinking.
*Misplacing things. People with Alzheimer's might put items in unusual places.
*Changes in mood or behavior.
*Changes in personality.
*Loss of motivation.
Source: The Alzheimer's Association

Note from Merrily, "Some of these are also synonymous with drinking!"

So, heed the words of caution before prescribing tequila for that memory impairment, but continue to look for ways to combat the effects of cognitive impairment.