Chocolate, tea and wine help memory

There are those of us who would like to forget that the year 2008 ever happened. It was a year of economic tragedy for many Americans. However, it was also a year of hope for those optimists among us who look forward to a new beginning with a major change in government.

Looking forward is easy in general terms but difficult to do accurately. For some of us, looking back can become just as inaccurate because the old brain just does not function as well as it used to.

So I was happy to see the results of a study from Oxford University that memories are made of chocolate, tea and wine. Since these can easily be made a part of our daily routines without much expense or any prescription involved, perhaps you might want to include them in your New Year’s resolutions.

The Oxford researchers, together with colleagues in Norway, examined the effect that the three products had on memory and thinking among more than 2,000 people aged between 70 and 74. They found that wine had the most pronounced single effect, while those who regularly consumed all three in modest amounts performed best in a series of brain tests.

The foods are thought to improve thinking because they contain micronutrients called flavonoids, which research has suggested can lower the risk of developing dementia.

After having a glass of wine (to help my memory), the results regarding wine spurred my memory of one episode of the television show “Cheers.” In it, Cliff Clavin was seated at the bar describing to Norm the “Buffalo Theory” which is sort of a “the chain is only as strong as its weakest link” explanation of brain function.

The idea is that the herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. When the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members.

Cliff went on to explain that in much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. It is well known that excessive intake of alcohol kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine.

And that, Cliff explained to Norm, “is why you always feel smarter after a few beers.”

While I cannot endorse the “Buffalo Theory” as anything but a funny idea, I am happy to report that another of the pleasant pastimes of our era, Internet surfing, may also be helpful. “Silver surfers” (older people who use the Internet) could be sharpening their brains according to researchers who scanned the brains of 24 people aged 55 to 76 while they did Web searches and read books. Only half of them had used the Internet before. All showed an increase in activity in regions of the brain controlling language, reading, memory and visual ability, but only the Web volunteers registered a significant boost in the areas that deal with decision-making and complex reasoning.

While the “Buffalo Theory” is a joke, it pleases me that some time on the Internet with a bit of chocolate and a cup of tea or a glass of wine will help my brain function better. I will be sure to include these things in my plans for 2009.

Article source: http://www.kpcnews.com/articles/2009/01/04/features/columnists/terry_gaff/doc4960df10f2167853996110.txt