'For older women who choose to drink -- and are not restricted from drinking for medical reasons -- moderate alcohol intake is not harmful for cognition and may provide some mental benefits.'

Researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center found that compared to non-drinkers, women who reported drinking up to two or three drinks per day performed better on measures of global cognitive function, which includes concentration, language, memory and abstract reasoning.

Better on Vocabulary Tests

The women were strongest in verbal skills: Those who reported having at least one drink a day did better on vocabulary tests and on a word fluency test asking them to generate a list of words beginning with a specific letter, according to a study published in the journal Neuroepidemiology.

"Our research confirms other studies suggesting that for older women who choose to drink -- and are not restricted from drinking for medical reasons -- moderate alcohol intake is not harmful for cognition and may provide some mental benefits," said lead author Mark Espeland.

"Until we better understand the reasons why alcohol consumption is associated with better cognitive functioning, these results on their own are not a reason for people who don't drink to start or for those who drink to increase their intake," he added.