Medical researchers have long said that red wine is good for you, and the new news is that Champagne is good for you too. It makes sense, since Champagne is made of grapes including two normally associated with red wine, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Memory deteriorates with age, and Champagne can counteract that according to reports.
Specifically, weekly Champagne can help fight dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, other degenerative brain disorders, and even plain old age related memory loss according to research recently published in the journal of Antioxidants and Redox Signaling by researchers at the University of Reading in England.
Researchers fed rats daily Champagne and found that after 6 weeks they were “smarter.” Specifically, rats were put in a maze with food in it, and then put back in the maze 5 minutes later to see if they remembered how to find the food. 50% of the non drinking rats remembered, but 70% of the Champagne drinking rats remembered. The rats had the equivalent of a glass of Champagne a day for humans.
It is suspected that organic compounds in Champagne, specifically phenols, may interact with nerves and increase communication with nerve cells and help regenerate nerve cells that transmit electrical signals to the brain. Lead researcher Dr. Giulia Corona is quoted by Wine Spectator as saying "Daily supplementation with a low-to-moderate doses of Champagne for six weeks led to an improvement in memory, indicating phenolic compounds in Champagne may interact directly with nerve cells, improve the communication between cells and encourage nerves that carry electrical signals in the brain to regenerate."
Researcher Jeremy Spencer's comments, a biochemistry professor at Reading University, are even more exciting. He said that “This occurred in rats after just six weeks. We think it would take about three years in humans.” And that it would be wise for those over 40 to have 2 or 3 glasses a week.
Dementia often starts imperceptibly in the 40s and continues as one ages. ‘It is a gradual decline and so the earlier people take these beneficial compounds in Champagne, the better.’
Although research is often conflicting, and this is only one study, it is promising. Unfortunately I haven’t had a glass of bubbly in two weeks so I’d better get drinking!