US study: Resveratrol in red wine reduces Alzheimer's disease

When dining at a high-end western restaurant, red wine (le vin rouge) becomes an indispensable drink on the table. In addition to expressing a lifestyle, it can also be a symbol of identity and status. The location and year of production are the key factors affecting quality and price. Many people know that long-term moderate drinking of red wine can strengthen cardiovascular function, and the latest research by American scientists points out that the antioxidant "resveratrol" (le resvératrol) in red wine not only has the effect of preventing obesity, diabetes and cancer, but may also reduce the incidence of Alzheimer's disease in the elderly, killing two birds with one stone.

An American experimental team found in mice that the antioxidant "resveratrol" in red wine can slow down the aging process of brain nerve cells and seems to have an anti-Alzheimer's effect. (Photo/taken from France's "Le Figaro")

French newspaper Le Figaro recently reported that resveratrol is a type of tea polyphenol (le polyohénol) and is found in large quantities in red grape products. It can also be found in chocolate, tomatoes and peanuts. Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center in the United States found in experiments on mice that the antioxidant function of resveratrol can slow the aging process of brain nerve cells and enhance cognitive ability. It also has the effect of dilating blood vessels, allowing blood to flow smoothly in the brain's microvessels without obstruction, reducing the risk of brain damage.

The brain cells of Alzheimer's patients metabolize faster than those of ordinary people. Dead brain cells release a protein called "Tau", which becomes tangled in the brain and blocks the synapses of nerve cells, causing problems in the transmission of information and affecting cognitive function. "Resveratrol" can slow down the metabolism of brain nerve cells in mice. Researchers speculate that if similar effects are produced in humans, it will be possible to prevent the occurrence of Alzheimer's disease.

According to statistics, there are more than 5.3 million elderly people in the United States suffering from varying degrees of Alzheimer's disease. On average, one person begins to experience similar symptoms every 70 seconds. Although the development of therapeutic drugs is urgent, researchers hope to find an antidote in daily diet. Next, they will conduct a second phase of human experiments to observe whether "resveratrol" has a significant effect on the brains of patients with mild to moderate dementia. The only thing that can be confirmed is that red wine is rich in antioxidants, and drinking it moderately every day is beneficial to the body and not harmful.