A new study from Harvard that looked at nearly 14,000 women over time revealed that those who had a small drink each day aged better than heavy drinkers and non-drinkers. The researchers noted that those women who drank between 1/2 ounce and 1 ounce of alcohol per day were 28% more likely to “achieve successful aging”–described as living to be at least 70 years of age while remaining “free of 11 major chronic diseases and having no major cognitive impairment, physical impairment, or mental health limitations.”

Of course, as in all of these alcohol-might-be-good-for-you studies, the researchers stressed that non-drinkers shouldn’t necessarily start drinking, but those who do drink alcohol may wish to consider this finding to maintain current habits or cut down to the optimal amount. Unlike previous studies which have linked resveratrol in red wine to healthy aging, the Harvard study looked only at alcohol consumption, not the type of alcoholic beverages that were imbibed. For reference, a standard drink that contains about 0.6 oz of alcohol is roughly found in one 12 oz beer, one 5 oz glass of wine, or one 1.5 oz shot of alcoholic spirits.

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3. Mild Cognitive Impairment More Common in Men Than Women
4. Barbara Strauch Speaks on the Middle Aged Brain