Drinking champagne can actually be really good for your brain

New research suggests that certain types of bubbly are linked to the prevention of degenerative brain diseases, such as a dementia.

Knocking back three glasses of champagne a week could help prevent dementia and Alzheimer's disease, according to findings from a new study.

Research published by the University of Reading suggests that the grapes in a glass of bubbly are good for improving spatial memory (which is important for navigation and performing complicated tasks) and preventing the onset of brain diseases.

Scientists at the University gave rats a moderate amount of champagne every day for six weeks. Every day they made each rat find a treat in a maze, repeating the test every five minutes to examine whether the animal had remembered where to go.

Without champagne the rats had a 50% success rate, but this rose to 70% after consuming the drink.

Following the findings, scientists now hope to test the effects on humans. They plan to use champagne containing the pinot noir and pinot meunier black grape varieties which are thought to be the 'super-grapes' which positively effect the brain.

Speaking to the Mail on Sunday (link), Professor Jeremy Spencer who led the research said the results of the survey were 'dramatic'.

'After rats consumed champagne regularly, there was a 200 per cent increase of proteins important for determining effective memory,' he said. 'This occurred in rats after just six weeks. We think it would take about three years in humans.'

He continued: 'This research is exciting because it illustrates for the first time that moderate consumption of champagne has the potential to influence cognitive functioning such as memory.'

So it looks like you might not need a special occasion to bust out the bubbly, anymore...