Wine revives brain cells

A CHEMICAL in wine boosts the activity of an enzyme that stimulates and regenerates brain cells up to seven-fold, scientists have discovered.

The chemical, resveratrol, is produced by vines to fight infection and is found in grapes and wine.

Alberto Bertelli and colleagues at the Human Anatomy Institute at the University of Milan, Italy, tested resveratrol on human neural cells in the laboratory. They found that it made them grow small extensions through which they could connect with neighbouring cells, the New Scientist magazine reported.

The discovery is seen as important since contacts between neural cells are broken in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. "By daily reinforcing these contacts, we can prevent neurodegeneration," said Mr Bertelli.

French scientists published a paper last year which showed that people who drank moderate amounts of wine daily were less likely to develop neurodegenerative diseases.