Drink up! Three glasses of champagne a week prevents dementia.

It’s global champagne day – and here’s an extra excuse to raise a glass of bubbly.

Can I get a prescription for that?

A study from the University of Reading says that drinking just three glasses of champagne a week could ‘counteract the memory loss associated with ageing, and could help delay the onset of degenerative brain disorders, such as dementia’.

The study, which gave rats small quantities of the sparkling wine, said they performed better on simple memory tests. They were probably also much better dancers.

Image: iStock

"Our research shows that Champagne, which lacks flavonoids, is also capable of influencing brain function through the actions of smaller phenolic compounds, previously thought to lack biological activity,” University of Reading researcher, Jeremy Spencer said when the study was initially released in 2013.

“We encourage a responsible approach to alcohol consumption, and our results suggest that a very low intake of one to two glasses a week can be effective."

It's for your health, sweetie.

Previous research from the University found two glasses of champagne a day 'may be good for your heart and circulation and could reduce the risks of suffering from cardiovascular disease and stroke'.

So the next time someone raises an eyebrow when you reach for another glass of bubbly, make sure you let them know that it is entirely medicinal.

Sure, it's only been tested on rats, but you know what to do...