More Than A Drink A Day Speeds Cognitive Decline in Older Adults

Whether you are participating in “Dry January,” abstaining from alcohol consumption after a season of indulgences, or just cutting back a bit, there is mounting evidence that anything more than a single daily glass of wine, beer or spirits a day can have a negative impact on health.  And older adults may be more greatly affected by alcohol’s effects on the body.

According to a recent study out of the UK, published in the Oxford Journal of Public Health, cognitive function declined in adults who consumed more than 10 grams per day of alcohol and was more apparent as age increased.  Data collected from more than 500,000 men and women between the ages of 40 and 73 was assessed over a period of five years.  Those who disclosed a neurological disorder during baseline or followup assessment were omitted from the study.

Researchers found that cognitive performance improved as alcohol consumption increased up to 10g per day and then deteriorated when alcohol consumption continued  beyond 10g per day.  The findings do not clear up once and for all whether or not light to moderate alcohol consumption is beneficial to cognitive performance, however, researchers stated the data supports the belief that “alcohol is neurotoxic and no cognitive benefits are derived from high consumption levels”.

Besides cognitive impairment, moderate to excess alcohol consumption has many other side-effects for older adults.  Aging changes the way the body metabolizes alcohol and may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medications including Tylenol, blood thinners, antibiotics, antidepressants and drugs used to treat heart disease.   Drinking can disrupt sleep, make arthritis pain worse, cause heart damage and lead to depression.  Alcohol consumption also increases the risk for injury resulting from a fall which often leads to a loss of independence among seniors.

While a small glass of red wine each day may have some health benefits,  getting carried away on a regular basis can not only speed up aging, it could lead to serious health problems and a poorer quality of life.  Follow this link to read more about the UK study of alcohol consumption and cognitive function in older adults.