Previous studies involving animals have found a link between moderate alcohol consumption and preservation of the brain's hippocampus, promoting new cell growth in the portion of the brain essential for emotion, memory and the nervous system.

"There were no significant differences in cognitive functioning and regional brain volumes during late life according to reported midlife alcohol consumption status," lead study author Brian Downer, a researcher at the University of Texas Medical Branch, said in a press release. "This may be due to the fact that adults who are able to continue consuming alcohol into old age are healthier, and therefore have higher cognition and larger regional brain volumes, than people who had to decrease their alcohol consumption due to unfavorable health outcomes."

The study was published in the American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias.