Study: Compound Found In Beer Boosts Brain Function

An anonymous reader writes Researchers have found that a chemical found in hops may actually improve memory. Unfortunately, a person would need to drink 3,520 pints of beer a day to get a high enough dose of the chemical to boost their brain power. A daunting task for even the most enthusiastic Oktoberfest participant. From the article: "Researchers at Oregon State University discovered that doses of xanthohumol, a flavonoid found in hops, improved memory and thinking in a lucky group of mice. Flavonoids are a class of compounds present in plants, known to have numerous health benefits. Last year, researchers discovered that a flavonoid found in celery and artichokes could potentially fight pancreatic cancer. The researchers treated the mice with dietary supplements of xanthohumol over the course of eight weeks. Their goal was to determine if xanthohumol could affect palmitoylation, a naturally occurring process in animals (including humans) that's associated with memory degradation. The mice then went through a series of tests—including the popular Morris water maze—to gauge whether or not the treatments had improved their spatial memory and cognitive flexibility. For the younger mice in the group, it worked. But on the older mice, unfortunately, the xanthohumol didn't seem to have any effect."

Comments

First "Flowers for Algernon" Post

[BarbaraHudson]

So now we know why Charlie Gordon didn't stay smart - he was too old.

Compound Found In Beer Impairs Brain Function

[sexconker]

No matter how many beneficial ingredients/components that beer and other alcoholic beverages may have, the dominant, overriding player will always be the alcohol, which is just fucking terrible for you.

Re:Compound Found In Beer Impairs Brain Function

[Zeio]

Wrong.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/wa...

Vitamins didn't seem to affect longevity, but alcohol intake did, with people who drank up to two drinks per day having a 10-15 percent reduced risk of death compared to non-drinkers. "A lot of people like to say it's only red wine. In our hands it didn't seem to matter," says Dr. Kawas.

might want to check the facts on this.

Re: Compound Found In Beer Impairs Brain Function

[jd2112]

A glass or two of wine/day : good
3250 beers/day : makes Amy Winehouse look sober.

Re:Compound Found In Beer Impairs Brain Function

[Travis Mansbridge]

To alcohol! The cause of - and solution to - all of life's problems.

Re:Compound Found In Beer Impairs Brain Function

[Swave An deBwoner]

Shall I pour you another, my good friend?

Re:Compound Found In Beer Impairs Brain Function

[istartedi]

Studies notebook, checks over a few calculations, and turns to colleague: You're not going to believe this. I really am a PIG FUCKER and I really SHOULD DIE. Oh no, forgot to carry the two. I'm good. Yes. I'll have another.

Re:Compound Found In Beer Impairs Brain Function

[neoritter]

That's it? Fuck me, breathing increases cancer risk these days.

A lucky group of mice?

[uCallHimDrJ0NES]

How did we confirm the luckification of these mice? Are the mice in my lab as lucky as the ones in this experiment?

Drink IPA

[Zeio]

I drink Pliny the Elder every Thursday @ 11 am at a bar locally here that taps just ONE KEG and this keg lasts about 1 Hour. 30-50 pitchers of beer.

Micro-bubbles in the brew.

Pliny is nice. Its balanced, lots of hops, IPA classic, only good fresh, and its smooth

Hops are really awesome. They are brain food. Also brewers yeast is able to even control blood pressure.

I love beer.

Re:Drink IPA

[Patent Lover]

Actually he died from breathing toxic volcanic ashes and gas. Just like the healthy children and young people around him.

Obligatory XKCD reference

[fwarren]

The Balmer peek

Re:Obligatory XKCD reference

[nitehawk214]

I think you want the Balmer Peak. Nobody wants to peek at Balmer.

Might I vary on this meme...

[Mister Liberty]

Compound found in brain improves beer function.

Challenge accepted

[calmdude]

One down, 3519 to go...

Re:frosty pilsner

[QuantumLeaper]

That's only ~440 galleons or about ~1650 liters per day, you could float a boat, easier.

Re: frosty pilsner

[conrad_halling]

How many boatloads in a galleon?

Thank you Captain Obvious!

[hyades1]

It is said that we only make real use of about a tenth of our brain. And it has long been well known that alcohol kills brain cells.

Darwinian natural selection takes care of the rest. The weak brain cells die off, and in due time are flushed from the body. As more and more beer is consumed, more and more weak brain cells die, until the subject is left with a relatively small number of powerful, high-functioning brain cells operating in a cruft-free environment.

And thus, genius is born.

Buffalo Theory is True!!

[naubrey]

A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And, 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. In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we all know, 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! That's why you always feel smarter after a few beers. The buffalo theory is concrete proof that getting drunk is good for your intelligence http://www.urbandictionary.com...

Finally some objective science!!!

[CaptainDork]

I couldn't read TFA because I spilled a beer on my keyboard, but I agree in principle.