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Alcohol tolerance linked to Alzheimer's

PEOPLE who lack special enzymes needed to break down alcohol in their bodies have a greater chance of developing Alzheimer's disease, according to Japanese scientists.

The study by Professor Shigeo Ota of the Nippon Medical School in Tokyo tested about 900 people, half of whom had Alzheimer's, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun daily reported on Thursday.

The results showed that people without the special to break

down alcohol were, 2.5 times more likely to get disease, it said. About 40 per cent of Japanese are said to lack such in a low tolerance for alcohol, the Asahi Shimbun daily.

Alzheimer's, a degenerative disease that affects the nervous system, is believed to be caused by hereditary and environmental factors and no cure has been found.

As reported in The Business Line News Service