This so surprised me, as soon as I saw it, I just had to share it with someone:
5 Things That Don’t Kill Your Brain Cells, Despite The Myths
I was especially surprised about alcohol. Doesn’t alcohol “soften” the brain? Apparently not.
“Doesn’t kill brain cells.” is not the same thing as damaging your brain.
E.g., being a heavy drinker shrinks your brain. There’s also Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Which inhibits new neurons. Something that also happens in adults. Plus even if neurons may not be killed by alcohol, they are certainly damaged enough so they aren’t functioning at 100%. Etc.
And then there’s its breakdown product Acetaldehyde …
Cliff Claven says alcohol kills brain cells:
"Well ya see, Norm, it’s like this… A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells.
“Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine; which is why you always feel smarter after a few beers.”