Wine promotes brain cleansing
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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Scientists from the University of Copenhagen argue that the moderate use of small doses of wine triggers the processes of "cleaning" the brain system.
Similar processes were discovered several years ago: the studies were conducted by the same scientists under the direction of Mike Nedergard. The mechanism of purification was then called the term "glyphatic system". This name is due to the fact that the mechanism has much in common with the known lymphatic system, but consists of glial cell structures.
Vessels carrying blood in the brain tissue are surrounded by outgrowths of astrocytes - additional, or glial cells. The structure has the form of a double tube, and in the interval between the shells a specific liquid accumulates, actively filtering the "garbage" substances into the blood vessel.
The main function of the glyphatic system is the removal of biochemical residues from the brain tissues, a kind of debris that is metabolic products, damaged molecules, etc.
New research by scientists was aimed at determining how alcohol use affects the functionality of the glyphatic system.
The essence of the experiment was as follows. Experimental rodents were offered two alcohol regimes. One group of animals each day received a relatively small volume of alcohol - 0.5 g / kg of body weight, which for the human body is equal to two glasses of wine. The second group of rodents received a larger volume - 1.5 g / kg body weight. There was also a third group, whose representatives did not receive alcohol at all.
Large amounts of alcohol had a negative effect on brain function, in which symptoms of an inflammatory reaction involving astrocytes occurred. Astrocytes are auxiliary structural elements of the nervous system involved in the formation of the glyphatic system. Among other things, in the second group of rodents, there was a significant disruption of cognitive abilities, and control over the reproduction of movements became more complicated.
But the rodents from the first group "lucky" the most: their glyphatic system began to function even better than in animals that did not give alcohol at all. And the mental and motor activity of mice was at the level of rodents from the "sober" group.
It is necessary to take into account one more fact. The purification system promotes the excretion of proteins related to the development of neurodegenerative pathologies (for example, Alzheimer's disease) from the brain tissues. Therefore, it can be assumed that moderate amounts of alcohol daily can become a preventive tool against degenerative processes in the nervous system. However, at the moment to give such advice early. It is necessary to initiate additional experiments, then compare the results of the study and the statistical data on the clinic of neurodegenerative disorders.
The full text of the research results is provided by Scientific Reports.