MoAlpha

Here's a link to the full text.

The authors controlled for a bunch of lifestyle and health factors relevant to cognitive decline in old age:

However, while they noted that the sample was "predominantly white (99.4%), middle to upper-middle class adults," notably absent among the covariates were education, intelligence, and socioeconomic status, all of which are positively associated with alcohol consumption and the study outcomes.

McBTC

Additionally, all of the participants live in San Diego which, weather-wise, is sort of like living in ancient Greece and that's got to be conducive to a more cheery disposition, irrespective of geriatric tippling.

McBTC

I don't think anyone is trying to justify getting inebriated. Maybe the science about the benefits is questionable for various legitimate reasons although it seems to be arguable that a moderate consumption of alcohol -- at least when you are older -- may actually be good for some if not most folks; however, I think even in ancient times, going back to when Jesus was said to have turned water into wine, drunkenness has been roundly looked down on by most everyone for many good reasons having nothing to do with the health and wellbeing of the individual...

Jim from Boston

What's Healthier, Cycling or Moderate Alcohol Use?

I like that term, as well as the concept of cognitively healthy longevity, worthy of its own initialism.

I have posted previously about my approach to CHL, in my anticipated retirement:

McBTC

True, true if senior cycling and a few glasses of port are conducive to CHL, I say, CHEERS!

TMonk

Meh, port is much too sweet for me. Give me a glass of Cabernet and I'm set!

Homebrew01

Back in the day, my brother and I did a 140 mile ride. Having a beer at the lunch stop seemed like a good idea at the time...WRONG....The next couple of climbs were awful.

McBTC

Us moderns apparently are 'moderate' drinkers compared to the founding fathers. In those days they would've put down 3 beers by noon and continued to drink 'til bedtime-- 'gotta guess they'd be considered 'heavy' drinkers by today's standards. Seemingly had good CHL. Tobacco existed back then but not cigarettes and no acetaminophen. According to the web... the variety of hemp grown back than would've had negligible THC.

Machka 

Steps to a Healthier Brain

https://synapse.org.au/information-s...act-sheet.aspx

This is a list of headings (the article goes into details):

• Exercise and challenge your brain
• Nourish your brain with a healthy diet
• Enjoy physical activity
• Make "safety first" a priority
• Manage anxiety, stress & depression
• Relax and sleep well
• Check your blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol.
• Avoid alcohol & other drugs if possible

Lemond1985

Jesus drank wine, but he only lived to be 33. I guess he should have cycled more.

McBTC

Yeah, sure, but... came back to life, right? Helluva demonstration of good health!

McBTC

… After Brain Injury? Seems that's a bit of a different topic. No one needs to justify abstinence if that's what makes sense to them--

McBTC

Here's a skeptical view of the latest research linking moderate alcohol consumption with increased longevity...

https://blog.bulletproof.com/limitat...ngevity-study/

If its all in the cards and they lived longer than most irrespective of 'bad habits,' just because they were healthy but, who's to say adopting good habits will enable less healthy people live any longer... if it's not in the cards?

AlmostTrick

Lots of people came back to life after being dead according to the writers of the bible. No link to drinking is noted.

McBTC

True, true, Ecclesiastes may have missed a great marketing opportunity when he limited his praise to nothing better than recommending that we, "eat and drink and be merry."

luevelvet

I never understood thew whole "beer after a ride" thing. Just seems so backwards to me.

slowrevs

The practice of controlling science news has long been attempted and practiced by those negatively affected by truth. Most often, they are entrenched religious, political or economic interests. And the practice goes back to times when the Earth was the Center of the Universe. Probably before. Recent examples are: Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq; Smoking Does not Cause Lung Cancer; Moderate Drinking Has Positive Health Consequences.

A thread opening with an apples and oranges comparison question, then proposing that moderate drinking increases ones life span, and citing a "scientific study" to that effect, tells me someone is telling people that getting inebriated is okay, and actually good for you. Such a proposition actively promotes drinking by those who might believe drinking isn't good for them, or by young people who don't know any better. Such a proposition as yours does not promote light drinking, minimal drinking or not drinking.

According to the U.S. NIH, "Moderate Drinking" is not globally well defined ( https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publicati...pdf?q=moderate ) due to differences about what constitutes a "standard drink." Simply, it is 4 - 14 (standard) drinks per week. If you drink them in one sitting, you will become inebriated.

Au contraire!

Drunkenness is regularly glorified as emotionally freeing and fun, a way to forget one's troubles, get pregnant and catch a husband, etc. Movies and TVs often show drunk people having fun together, having sex as a result of getting drunk, all kinds of "benefits," etc. Films like "The Lost Weekend" are not regularly released. Al Bundy never attended an AA meeting.

The only aspect of drunkenness roundly criticized throughout history is that of "excessive drunkenness" or "perpetual drunkenness."

Sorry, but from where I sit, your posts to this thread seem only to have had one purpose, i.e., to promote "Moderate Drinking."

Forgive those of us who disagree with you and your proposition for turning the science and Truth of the matter against you.

Lemond1985

"If really heavy drinking causes blindness, can I just do it until I need glasses?"

McBTC

True, true...

LesterOfPuppets

I guess a beer before the ride is OK too.

luevelvet

Even worse if you ask me! lol

slowrevs

Unfortunately, the Mayo Clinic has a vested interest in people drinking.

Like all large bureaucracies, their attitude is not to rock the boat too hard if
a profit can be had by not rocking it at all.

https://mayoclinichealthsystem.org/l...untain-centers

Fountain Centers

Fountain Centers has been committed to helping individuals and their families who have alcohol and other drug problems since 1974. We take pride in addressing the whole person including underlying mental health and medical issues. Today, all of our residential and extended care patients have access to the latest medical resources for their addiction and co-morbid mental health symptoms.

Core components of our treatment programs draw from motivational enhancement and cognitive behavioral traditions, with an emphasis on teaching relapse prevention skills. We promote and integrate the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous into our therapy services. All treatment plans are individualized, ensuring that each person's unique needs are met to promote healing and recovery. Dignity and respect are foundational values that guide our work with patients.

etc.

McBTC

At one time or another, both science and popular thinking supported beliefs that eating foods like coffee, eggs, milk/butter/cheese/saturated fats, white bread, salt/sugar/fructose, tuna, charred and preserved meats... all are bad for you.

Science is often misused and erroneous findings are commonplace. Still, popular 'knowledge' is hardly free of bias and ignorance. Sometimes, a little common sense is about as close as we get to making intelligent choices and this gives a lot of credence to the old saw... everything in moderation.

When it comes to moderation, for food it's looking at not overdoing it. But, when it comes to exercise its getting at least a minimum amount of it-- e.g., at least 30 minutes of vigorous exercise at least 5-days /wk.

Probably the best advice is don't eat or drink too much or you'll get fat and for what is eaten, all things in moderation is key -- counting on the benefits to balance-out the negatives -- so long as you're getting the minimum amount of exercise.

All said, however, heart disease is still the leading cause of death (one-in-four). Not smoking , eating well but not eating too much and some exercise on a regular basis will help to prevent heart disease and so too may well be the consumption of alcohol.

Dancing Skeleton

Yes

Rides4Beer

One of my favorite rides starts/finishes at a shop that also has beer, some of us hang out after and have a couple of beers. Nothing backwards at all, you've got camaraderie and carbs, perfect post ride recovery.