Having low levels of alcohol in the blood may protect the brain from the effects of a head injury, a study suggests.

The University of Toronto found head injury patients who had drunk low amounts were 24% less likely to die than those who had not had any alcohol.

Heavy drinking increased the risk of death substantially – those with high levels of alcohol in their blood were 73% more likely to die than those with no alcohol.

The researchers said alcohol might one day be used as part of emergency treatment for some head injury patients.

[Read](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6190391.stm “Read the Story”) (BBC)