Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Medical Advisory Board
The number of older adults in the United states has grown significantly. Likewise, there has been a noticeable increase in drinking among senior citizens. Many of us have been under the impression that the moderate intake of alcoholic beverages has a positive health effect, in particular, on heart health. This notion has been debunked by a team of researchers who reviewed a large British study that followed 135,103 adults over a span of twelve years who were aged 60 and older.
Dr. Rosario Ortolá, and colleagues at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid dove into the British Biobank report, and analyzed the impact of alcohol consumption on mortality among older adults. They reported their findings in JAMA Network Open on August 12, 2024
According to the JAMA study, consuming low or moderate amounts of alcohol in adults of 60 years of age or above didn’t improve heart health, or increase their longevity. Rather, it was associated with higher mortality rates in the elderly, especially those with heart disease, or socioeconomic risk factors. Drinking wine as a preference, and only with meals has been reported to reduce the mortality associated with alcohol consumption. This finding requires further investigation.
Researchers reported that low-risk drinking was associated with higher cancer mortality among older adults. Also, such drinking is associated with higher mortality among older adults with health-related, or socioeconomic risk factors. Unlike previous studies, low to moderate alcohol consumption does not provide health protection.
The JAMA study has several positive aspects, including the large sample size, the long follow-up, and the use methods to prevent selection biases. It also had several limitations, which
included self-reporting of alcoholic intake, the research was conducted in older, white adults in the UK, and difficulty in adjusting to several confounding variables in the study.
Older adults experience an increased sensitivity to alcohol, which places them at a higher risk for falls and other injuries. What is less recognized is the harmful, health effects that low-to-moderate consumption of alcohol has in the elderly population. The work of the scientists who wrote the JAMA report have provided greater awareness of this problem.
This article is intended solely as a learning experience. Please consult your physician for diagnostic and treatment options.
