Patient of Alzheimer's disease may reduce their risk of death in early stages of the disease by drinking about three to four alcoholic drinks, according to a new study in the journal BMJ Open.

The study, Danish Alzheimer's Intervention Study (DAISY), examined approximately 321 people with Alzheimer's disease. About 17% participants drank just 2 to 3 units of alcohol per day, while more than 70% drank alcohol occasionally. Just 8% subjects never drank alcohol. The study found that participants who were drinking alcohol everyday were more than 75% more likely to stay alive for about 36 months later compared to the subject who drank occasionally.

It is not the first time when moderate drinking has been linked to reduce risk of a disease. Some previous researches also associated alcohol consumption in moderate amount with reduced risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Some neurologists still think that alcohol consumption kills brain cells, and may also increase depression and anxiety risks in some people.

A professor from University of Southern Denmark and lead author of the study, Frans Boch Waldorff, said, “It came as a surprise. We thought perhaps if you had a brain disease, you would not tolerate alcohol in the way of people without brain disease”.

According to spokesperson for Danish Alzheimer's Intervention Study, the study has provided hints that drinking alcohol in moderate amount could be beneficial for people with Alzheimer's disease, but the study doesn’t encourage people to drink alcohol.