Though research is ongoing, the health benefits of wine are gaining more and more recognition. When consumed in moderation, wine has been shown to have benefits to your heart and, now, perhaps your brain.

Recently, researchers at Columbia have come to that tentative conclusion:

Cognitive tests were performed over the telephone. During the calls, the participants were asked to state the date, day of the week, year, and their location. They were also asked to remember 10 words immediately and after a delay of a few minutes. The subjects were phoned again to retake the test (some subjects got only two, but many got three or more tests), and the difference in performance was recorded. The average follow-up was two years, and during all interviews, alcohol-consumption habits were also noted.

The scientists then measured the change in test scores over time and compared scores for drinkers compared to those who reported never drinking. “All three categories of current drinkers, but not past drinkers”–meaning people who gave up drinking–”had significantly less cognitive decline than never drinkers,” wrote the authors.

We’re not talking about whole bottles in a single sitting, or even drinks consumed through jelly-fish bongs, but “the three categories of drinkers–one drink per month to one drink per week, one drink per week to two drinks per day and more than two drinks per day–scored 0.9, 1.5 and 2.4 points higher on the cognition test, respectively, than nondrinkers.”

An excuse to drink at work? Probably not. But a great excuse to relax on these cool spring evenings with a glass of wine and a loved one? Definitely.

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