Drinking alcohol in light to moderate quantities is linked to reductions in the brain’s stress activity and may be associated with a lower risk of heart disease, according to a new study.
The research, published on Monday in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, found for the first time that light to moderate alcohol consumption – 1 drink per day for women and 1 to 2 drinks per day for men – is associated with long-term reductions in stress signaling in the brain.
This impact on the brain’s stress systems could account for the reductions in cardiovascular events seen in light to moderate drinkers, say researchers, including those from the Massachusetts General Hospital in the US.
