halve

Daily, moderate drinking could almost halve the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia, according to a new research.
   The finding adds to a growing body of evidence for the health benefits of moderate drinking, which is already known to protect against heart disease and stroke.
   The study, published this week in The Lancet Medical Journal, also finds that it doesn’t seem to matter what people drink--the effect is the same.
   Experts say moderation--between one and three drinks a day--is the key.
   The adverse effect of excess alcohol is beyond question.
   Researchers suggest the blood-thinning and cholesterol-lowering properties of ethanol in alcohol may ward off dementia, which is often caused by a blood vessel problem.
   Another possibility, the study speculates, is that low levels of alcohol can stimulate the release of acetylcholine, a brain chemical believed to facilitate learning and memory.