Just one daily drink may impact brain size.
It's common knowledge that heavy alcohol consumption does no good for brain health. Over the years, a number of studies have indicated that one daily drink has potential health benefits.
To rain on the parade, however, a study from the University of Pennsylvania indicates that as little as one beer or one glass of wine each day may reduce brain size and accelerate brain aging.
https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/one-alcoholic-drink-day-linked-reduced-...
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Wilsons Grave
Wow. Not good news. Do you know if there's a way to grow back some of those lost brain cells?
Well Street
Researchers believe that learning and trying new things as well as spending time with friends and loved ones can stimulate new cells to grow.
Nutritionally, omega-3 fats found in salmon, tuna, avocados, flax, and chia seeds encourage neuron growth. Dark chocolate and blueberries are also linked to brain health.
Green tea, cardiovascular exercise, and moderate amounts of daily sunlight have all been associated with brain cell growth; and high-quality sleep and stress management are definitely on the list for healthy brain function.
June in December
I cannot speak to the regrowth of brain cells, but on a related topic I understand that our brains and central nervous systems are "wired" the way that they are because of things (traumas) we have experienced in our formative years. Therefore we can retrain our brains through new experiences. This relates to what you said about new experiences and friendships. I've begun to do this myself--in my forties!
Well Street
You make a good point and it speaks to neuroplasticity. For a long time, it was believed that after the age of six, the brain's wiring was pretty much set in stone. Fortunately, this has been disproven and significant rewiring can occur deep into adulthood.
June in December
That's good to hear. What I said, I did hear in a Ted talk or YouTube video about neuroplasticity, but the context was that it is difficult to rewire the brain after childhood, but again I agree that change is possible during adulthood.