According to this article drinking a glass of wine or a pint of beer a day can cut your chances of developing dementia. Research has shown that people who drink between two and three units of alcohol a day were 29% less likely to develop dementia than those who were teetotal. Drinkers were also 42% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s. The results led the researchers to the conclusion that moderate alcohol consumption can actually have a protective effect against dementia. They believe it works by lowering cholesterol levels, stopping blood from clotting too much and improving insulin sensitivity to blood sugar levels. However, prolonged heavy drinking can have the opposite effect and is thought to be responsible for one in ten cases of dementia.