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Champagne usually marks a memorable occasion for most of us – but scientists are now claiming three glasses a week can help to ensure it’s a memory that lasts.
Researchers say a healthy dose of bubbly can help against brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia.
Jeremy Spencer, a biochemistry professor at Reading University, said anyone over 40 would be wise to drink two or three glasses a week.
“Dementia probably starts in the 40s and goes on to the 80s,” he said.
“It is a gradual decline and so the earlier people take these beneficial compounds in champagne, the better.”
His team say the source is a compound called phenolic acid, found in the black grapes, Pinot noir and Pinot meunier, both of which are used for champagne.
Anyone over 40 would be wise to drink two or three glasses a week
Their findings have come about after they carried out experiments on rats by putting champagne into their food every day for six weeks.
Each rat was then left to run in a maze to find a treat, with the test repeated after five minutes to see if the rat had remembered where to go.
The rodents had a 50 per cent success rate without champagne. But this rose to 70 per cent after the fizz.
Prof. Spencer now hopes to conduct a trial on up to 60 pensioners who will be asked to drink champagne for three years. He told the Mail on Sunday: “The results were dramatic. After rats consumed champagne regularly, there was a 200 per cent increase of proteins important for determining effective memory.
“This occurred in rats after just six weeks. We think it would take about three years in humans.
“This research is exciting because it illustrates for the first time that moderate consumption of champagne has the potential to influence cognitive functioning such as memory.”
A spokesman for the Alzheimer’s Society said: “This is an interesting study, especially for those who enjoy a glass of bubbly.
“However, people should not start celebrating just yet. This is the first time a link between champagne and dementia risk reduction has been found. A lot more research is needed.”
The same research team said in 2009 that champagne is as good for the heart as cocoa or red wine polyphenol antioxidants. ( http://vinoenology.com )