There are worse ways to make a few bob.
Last month, we brought you news of a job that necessitated the drinking gin all over the world. Now comes a callout for another paid gig requiring the consumption of booze – this time, red wine.
Researchers at the University of Northumbria, in Newcastle upon Tyne, are looking for volunteers for two studies to learn more about the benefits of red wine on brain function.
What’s more, the volunteers will be paid upwards of £65 for their wine-quaffing efforts.
Research lead Timothy Eschle said:
“There are a number of benefits to consuming red grapes. A specific extract from the skin of red grapes, resveratrol, has been found to increase blood flow to the brain and in some cases, increase mental performance on cognitive tasks.
“Most studies have been carried out in young adults at the peak of their cognitive abilities, thus the benefits of resveratrol are expected to be more prominent in older adults who may suffer a slight natural decline in certain aspects of mental function such as memory and reaction time.
“We also want to establish whether resveratrol can affect mental function at altitude, which often impacts on people’s performance.”
Sounds too good to be true, right?
Well, there is a catch. During the study, volunteers won’t be knocking back bottles of actual red wine – the resveratrol will be administered in capsule form instead.
Still, sounds like it will give the same buzz as a glass of vino.
Now for the small print. The Telegraph reports that volunteers must be non-smokers, and aged between either 18-35 or 50-70. They’ll have to be at there in person at the university’s brain performance and nutrition research centre on three occasions: a screening and training session; and two testing sessions lasting two hours each, during which the volunteers will be asked to perform various cognitive tasks.
