Drinking alcohol at times keeps illness at bay, especially in case of women and non-smokers, says a recent study.

The above study involved a thorough analysis of personal data and health backgrounds of people affected with Alzheimer's disease in comparison with healthier ones of the same age and gender.

Through the study it was found that risk of Alzheimer's was unaffected by the amount of cigarettes smoked, in contrast moderate alcohol consumption aided in gaining resistance to Alzheimer's disease in case of non-smokers as corroborated by Ana Garcia, of the University of Valencia, Spain. She further adds that the effects of smoking and drinking affects brain neuronal receptors.

The finding was based on an observation study conducted by interviewing the relatives of 176 Alzheimer's patients and a further group of 246 healthy people across Spain. Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust chips in by stating: "While the idea that alcohol might protect us from dementia is enticing, we don't yet know this with certainty."