No evidence to prove champagne's effect on dementia

Reports have gone viral in the media this week that suggest champagne may be able to prevent the onset of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

But the NHS has highlighted that these claims are not to be believed and that further research would need to be carried out before such a statement could accurately be made.

A study carried out by doctors at the University of Reading and the University of East Anglia in 2013 found that rats given regular drinks of champagne were significantly better at being able to find hidden treats than those that consumed other beverages.

This story has re-emerged this week, with reports in national newspapers claiming that drinking three glasses of champagne each week could prevent the development of degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's.

However, the NHS has pointed out as the study was conducted on rats and that the results can be attributed to the increased flavonoid intake that champagne brings, patients should not be rushing out to stock up on champagne in a bid to preserve their mental health.

The health service emphasised that there are much healthier ways to up a person's flavonoid intake, such as by eating parsley, blueberries and peanuts, but there is also no solid evidence to show their effect on dementia either.

Find out about dementia care and support services at Barchester care homes.