Get grandpa's Shiraz! Red wine could prevent falls in the elderly

Pour grandma a glass of Merlot. A substance in red wine may improve balance in the elderly and prevent falls, a new study suggests. Researchers say old mice fed resveratrol, an antioxidant found in dark grapes, for several weeks were able to stroll along a narrow beam as confidently as younger rodents. Without it, they stumbled, suggesting resveratrol may “increase an ageing person’s quality of life and decrease their risk of hospitalization due to slips and falls,” the Duquesne University study’s lead author says. However, for the same effect, humans would have to toss back 108 bottles of wine a day. So to lower her risk of falling, grandma would have to get fall-down drunk. [Source]

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