Beer : Health and Nutrition

The Impact of Alcohol on Health 145
Korsakoff’s syndrome (Bowden & McCarter 1993) is characterised by a loss of
memory and a loss of limb sensation and is believed to be due to a shortage of thiamine
and perhaps other B vitamins. Wernicke’s encephalopathy (Jolliffe et al. 1941),
characterised by haemorrhaging in the brain, is also due to a shortage of B vitamins.
Again it must be stressed that these conditions are only to be found in abusers who are
not taking a well-balanced diet.
Marchiafava-Bignami disease, which is a brain disease with symptoms that include
loss of balance and irrational behaviour, also probably relates to malnutrition in excessive
consumers (Neiman 1998). Likewise, peripheral neuropathy (the damage to nerves
around the body) is probably more a function of vitamin de ciency than alcohol per
se (Todd et al. 1999).
The classic phenotypic condition associated in the popular consciousness with retreat
from alcoholic excess is delirium tremens (the ‘DTs’), a confused state in which the
drinker is agitated, suffers delusions (especially auditory) and shakes (Saitz 1998).
The effects described above are associated with excessive consumption of alcohol.
Are there any bene ts to the nervous system from moderate intake of alcohol?
In a study of 4739 sets of twins born between 1917 and 1927, a J-shaped curve was
demonstrated between alcohol consumption and cognitive function (Christian et al.
1995). Moderate drinkers performed signi cantly better than abstainers or heavy drinkers.
A study in the Aichi Prefecture of Japan by the National Institute for Longevity
Sciences, reported in New Scientist of 9 December 2000, claimed that those who drink
in moderation register a higher IQ than abstainers – by 3.3 points for men and 2.5 points
for women. This is irrespective of the preferred drink. There appears to be no conclusive
explanation for the observation – and it may well be another example of secondary
correlation: those drinking alcohol in moderation may adopt other lifestyle behaviours
that are commensurate with greater intellectual capacity.
Baum-Baicker (1985b) identi ed ve bene ts on the mind and intellect associated
with moderate drinking. The claim is that moderate drinkers (a) are more outgoing and
enthusiastic about life, (b) are less stressed and enjoy all aspects of their life more, (c)
perform some tasks better after a drink, (d) enjoy fewer incidences of depression, (e)
fare better when elderly, including better cognitive function.
Because vascular disease is associated with cognitive impairment and dementia,
Ruitenberg et al. (2002) hypothesised that alcohol consumption might also affect the
risk of dementia. They found that light to moderate drinking (1–3 drinks per day) is
signi cantly associated with a lower risk of dementia in those who are aged 55 years
or older. It did not depend on the type of alcoholic beverage.
There is some evidence that people respond to what they think is the strength of the
beer. For example, performance deteriorates after high consumption of an alcohol-free
drink if the consumer believes it contained alcohol (Mortensen et al. 2001).