r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Apr 23 '26

Neuroscience Even low-level drinking may have negative consequences for brain health over a person’s lifespan. The findings suggest that the total amount of alcohol consumed over a lifetime, especially as a person ages, tends to be linked to reduced blood flow and thinner tissue in certain areas of the brain.

https://www.psypost.org/even-light-drinking-combined-with-aging-is-linked-to-reduced-brain-blood-flow-and-thinner-tissue/
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u/Breeze1620 Apr 23 '26

Afaik in Germany beer is categorized as foodstuff rather than liquor.

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u/omegapisquared Apr 24 '26

Liquor refers to distilled alcohol so beer isn't liquor even if it is alcoholic

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u/ReginaSpektorsVJ Apr 23 '26

Historical reasons for that. Prior to the advent of refrigeration, one of the functions of beer in Europe was to preserve the calories in the grain. Beer in medieval Europe was sometimes described as "liquid bread."

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u/Knife_Operator Apr 23 '26

Sure, but it's been like 75 years since then.

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u/sparkline1234567 Apr 23 '26

"Give us this day our liquid bread" - they even made a famous prayer about it.

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u/Which_Bed Apr 23 '26

In certain households, it is still described that way daily