Moderate Drinking May Be More Harmful Than Previously Thought for Seniors

Drinking alcohol in moderation may be worse for older adults than previously thought. A new study found moderate drinking doesn’t benefit the health of adults 55 and up, countering beliefs that a glass or two of alcohol, such as wine, a day might be good for health.

The study, published August 19 in the journal JAMA Network Open, discovered less is more when it comes to alcohol. Researchers examined the health outcomes of more than 135,000 UK adults 60 and older between 2006 and 2010. They asked them detailed questions about their alcohol use and were classified as occasional, low to moderate or high-risk drinkers. 

The study found health risks at every level of alcohol consumption. Participants who fell into the low-risk category were about 10% more likely to die of cancer. Those who were at moderate risk had about a 10% to 15% higher risk of dying of any cause and dying of cancer, while high-risk drinkers were about 33% more likely to die of cancer, heart disease and any other cause.

“Alcohol is a carcinogen and contributes to about 50 different types of death,” said Dr. Timothy Naimi, the director of the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research at the University of Victoria, to CNN. 

Naimi was not involved in the study, but said alcohol is generally a health hazard.

“The most consistent finding across all the science is that, generally speaking, the less you drink, the better you are off health-wise,” he said.

Researchers in this study also found the risks associated with drinking were more pronounced in people who scored as having lower incomes and more health conditions. 

When it comes to drinking in moderation, researchers postulated that people who drink wine or only drink with meals may practice moderation in other areas of their lives too or practice other healthy behaviors like being physically active.

“Moderate drinking is maybe a reflection of a healthier lifestyle, but it is not its cause, and that’s a very important distinction to make,” he said.

Exceptions such as these could point to benefits apart from alcohol like antioxidants in wine or drink spacing at meals, but the researchers said more studies are required to understand the differences.

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