Moderate alcohol consumption enhances the formation of new nerve cells

[Barrett808]

Moderate alcohol consumption over a relatively long period of time can enhance the formation of new nerve cells in the adult brain. The new cells could prove important in the development of alcohol dependency and other long-term effects of alcohol on the brain. The findings are published by Karolinska Institutet.

The study, which was carried out on mice, examined alcohol consumption corresponding to that found in normal social situations. The results show that moderate drinking enhances the formation of new cells in the adult brain. The cells survive and develop into nerve cells in the normal manner. No increase in neuronal atrophy, however, could be demonstrated.

It is generally accepted these days that new nerve cells are continually being formed in the adult brain. One suggestion is that these new neurons could be important for memory and learning. The number of new cells formed is governed by a number of factors such as stress, depression, physical activity and antidepressants.

“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,” says associate professor Stefan Brené.

(more)

http://info.ki.se/article_en.html?ID=3516

[MemphisTiger]

1. In my best commercial voice

"Paid for by Jack Daniels"

[losdiablosgato]

3. You will excuse me I have to solve Pi to the last decimal,

Be back in 5 minutes.:toast:

[priller]

9. Ha! There is no last decimal for PI!

See, that alcohol just makes you *think* you're smarter.

[losdiablosgato]

11. I will have anothe Shiner Bock anyway.

[havocmom]

2. Alcohol the cause of the addiction or is it the need to medicate

From the article:
<snip> “It is also possible that it is the ataractic effect of moderate alcohol consumption that leads to the formation of new brain cells, much in the same way as with antidepressive drugs.”

So, if the body knows it need something to make it work better, it might develope a craving for a substance which offers some help? That sounds reasonable. And while I think antidepreassants might be over perscribed, this makes a case for looking into using them better for those who might really benifit.

[TalkingDog]

4. The same way nicotine helps schizophrenics....

It plugs into a ???neurotransmitter site and reduces the symptoms for as long as the drug (nicotine) is in the system.

Ask any psych ward nurse, schizoid patients are chain smokers.

A lot of people self medicate with cigarettes, booze and caffine. The body knows. It just can't be as precisely specific as it needs to be.

[havocmom]

18. I self medicate with chocolate

Know there is something in there besides caffeine my brain needs. And it doesn't have the nasty side affect that Prozac troubled me with ;)

I do credit some time on Prozac for retraining my brain/body to whip up the chemical cocktail my head needs. I help it along now with 5-HTP and a host of vitamins/herbs that really help. Don't get to the totally black place now but not flying too high like the Prozac made me feel after some time.

After a while the Prozac made me too rash because I felt invincible. I think that get dangerous, as the stock market a few years back would suggest.

The more they find out, the more likely we will get more tailored treatments. Handing out the psycho-active drug de jour to all comers is as dangerous as not doing anything. Different strokes for different folks. One size does NOT fit all. Many of us will self medicate out of desperation. The system doesn't work well just yet. But there seems to be hope.

Hope is a wonderful thing some take for granted. For some of us, it is a recent invention. For too many, a myth.

[TalkingDog]

24. I would crave chocolate and cheese...well, not together

Tho, chocolate covered cheese might be interesting.....

Anyway, I found out they both have iodine in fair concentrations. When I started taking 4 or 5 drops of kelp tincture in the mornings the cravings abated to: I can eat it or not. If I get under stress I tend to crave both more, so it's still a listen to your body thing.

[Gormy Cuss]

15. body signals

I'm in the camp that believes our bodies do tell us what we are lacking through cravings, but I don't know how to account for addiction other than nature did not presume a limitless supply of food, alcohol, nicotine, etc. We aren't the only species who likes to take the edge off, nor the only ones who overdo it when there's abundant supply.

[donsu]

5. a little alcohol makes new cells - a lot of alcohol kills cells - hhmmm

nt

[goodboy]

6. eye thawt sow! ewe shud dreenk liyk em !

[daleo]

7. Ironic

We used to be told every drink kills X number of brain cells. It turns out to be the opposite (up to a point).

[Coventina]

8. I don't get it....article is unclear....is it good or bad

that these cells develop?

[priller]

10. No, it doesn't sound like it's a good thing

The new brain cells don't make you smarter, but possibly reinforce alcholic behavior. That seems to be what it says. Not sure, can't think straight through the hangover.......:beer:

[ozone_man]

12. I couldn't tell either.

More nerve cell sounds better, but not if they lead to alcohol addiction.

[havocmom]

19. Key is MODERATION

but then, that is impossible for some. I have trouble drinking as much as the doctors said I should. My brother can't stop.

Moderation is all things is probably the best advice.

Watch cats with catnip. Most will indulge, but won't over indulge very often. And cats seem to advocate yoga and racing around for the hell of it mixed with ample sleep and plenty of sensual indulgences. Cats seldom seem to suffer from depression :D

[youspeakmylanguage]

23. Moderation?

In the land of 15-pound burgers and Hummers?


I think it's been established that moderation is a vile invention of Karl Marx, Ward Churchill, and Michael Moore. Shame on you all.

[Sabriel]

13. It's helped my memory tremendously

From the article: "One suggestion is that these new neurons could be important for memory and learning."

I remember to drink more and more often these days, so it must be working.

[XemaSab]

14. It's a sad, sad day

when the most important research is coming out of Sweden.

Whatever happened to the gold old USA, birthplace of the famed Milwaukee breweries, Southern Comfort, Napa Valley, and Mad Dog 20/20?

All they have in Sweden is potato shine made in Ole Oleson's barn.

I think the US needs to reclaim the lead in science, and we need to start early.

The only way we can do this is by lowering the drinking age to 5!

[Megahurtz]

16. Well, hey!

:beer:

[unblock]

17. "NEW NERVE CELLS" does NOT mean "GOOD THING"

it appears that the new nerve cells play a role in alcohol addition.

the health of a brain is not measured by the quantity of nerve cells.

feel free to have some humor with this story, but please note that the article is NOT saying that alcohol consumption is a good thing.

[FlaGranny]

20. Rather confusing article.

Wish I could see the original study. Are the new nerve cells specifically causing increased addiction or is addiction caused by the brain's drive to create new nerve cells? Two quite different things and the article is more confusing than informative. If it is the second finding, then addictions could be treated by finding healthier ways to increase the production of new nerve cells.

[Theres-a]

21. What defines moderate?

http://us.news3.yimg.com/img.news.yahoo.com/util/anysize/348,http%3A%2F%2Fus.news2.yimg.com%2Fus.yimg.com%2Fp%2Fnm%2F20050509%2Fmdf555296.jpg

[Az_lefty]

22. Does this mean that if the shrub started drinking again...

he would be more articulate, more capable of making decisions? I somehow doubt this.