While drinking small amounts of red wine has been shown to reduce the risks of cardiovascular diseases in both men and women, a new study suggests a glass or two of red wine can be good for the brain, too.

A team from the University of Rochester Medical Center studied how excessive and low levels of alcohol consumption affected the brains of lab mice. In results published in Scientific Reports, they said red wine can reduce inflammation and help rid the brain of toxins.

The researchers focused on the brain’s glymphatic system, which works like a flush. Cerebral spinal fluid is pumped into brain tissue and clears away toxins such as proteins beta amyloid and tau, which are associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

High levels of alcohol over a long period of time caused the mice to lose some of their motor skills and cognitive abilities and their brains were highly inflamed. But mice that had the equivalent of two-and-a-half glasses of wine a day had less brain inflammation. More importantly, their spinal fluid was more efficient than the spinal fluid in mice that had not had wine.

In a related study, researchers at Louisiana State University found compounds in red wine can help surgical treatments. In a coronary angioplasty, where a tiny balloon is inserted to widen blocked or narrowed arteries, red wine antioxidants helped prevent the arteries from closing again. The team is developing a stent, a tiny tube that fits into a blood vessel, that will slowly release red wine antioxidants to prevent clotting and inflammation.

So, lift a glass of cabernet and toast the healing powers of red wine. To your health!