Sober living

Health Topics: Older Adults and Alcohol National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism NIAAA

aging and alcohol tolerance

The size of the older adult population is increasing rapidly. Alcohol misuse and alcohol-related harms are also increasing among this population, and at a faster rate for women than men. Alcohol misuse refers to drinking in a manner, situation, amount, or frequency that could cause harm to the person who drinks or to those around them. Alcohol misuse includes binge drinking and heavy alcohol use as well as consumption at lower levels for some individuals. Understanding how alcohol affects the health of older adults can help them and their health care providers make informed decisions about their health and well-being.

What Your Body Needs as You Age

aging and alcohol tolerance

Combining alcohol and medication is also risky, and almost 90% of older adults are taking at least one medication regularly, Collier said. “The body changes as we age, and these changes render us more susceptible to some of the harms that stem from alcohol use,” he said. According to a 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 62% of people age 12 years or older consumed alcohol in the past year and 21.5% of that group binged alcohol in the past month.

Tips for Safe Alcohol Consumption

  • Thinking about the price of getting sick can certainly help meet Dr. Schwartz’s recommendation.
  • This slower metabolism can lead to higher blood alcohol concentrations and a longer-lasting intoxicating effect.

Dr. Schwartz goes on to explain that as we age, muscle is replaced by fat and fat cells hold less water than muscle cells, largely diminishing the positive effect that muscles can have on the processing of alcohol. “Not only does this mean your body can’t metabolize alcohol as quickly as it did https://ecosoberhouse.com/ when you were younger, it also increases the direct damage to your liver from alcohol,” she says. It’s crucial you ask your doctor or pharmacist whether there are any risks to drinking while taking your specific medications.

Body Scan Meditation

Research has shown that excessive alcohol use can diminish white matter in the brain. White matter lies under the brain’s gray matter and is the network alcohol and aging of nerve fibers that transmit information throughout the brain. Heavy alcohol use has also been found to increase the risk of dementia. Lee said that alcohol — a known depressant — readily crosses the blood brain barrier, which plays a role in its depressive and addictive effects. Chronic pain is one of the most common and potentially debilitating health issues facing older adults, studies have shown. By focusing more on the interests that add meaning and joy to your life, you’ll begin to feel more fulfilled and less reliant on alcohol.

aging and alcohol tolerance

A new advisory from United States Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, M.D., warns about Oxford House the direct link between alcohol consumption and cancer. “As you age, you get a higher blood alcohol concentration — what they measure on a breathalyzer — than a younger person who drank the same amount,” Koncilja says. And that means you can get hit with all the side effects in fewer sips. Certain medications and excessive alcohol can work in tandem to suppress or amplify the effects of the other. Alcohol can diminish the effectiveness of medications, and medications can amplify the effect of alcohol on the body. Chronic alcohol use also can damage the brain and exacerbate the effects of certain diseases.

  • If your balance, sight, or reflexes are not what they were, accidents such as falls and vehicle collisions may be more likely to occur.
  • This decreased enzyme activity can prolong the presence of alcohol in the bloodstream, intensifying its effects on the body.
  • According to a Northwestern Medicine study published in the journal Aging, scientists found that consuming certain types of alcohol over long periods of time as well as binge drinking both speed up biological aging.
  • Even sober, older adults are more prone to falls, so knocking back a few drinks can get extra dangerous.
  • In addition, due to changes in the body, such as reduced muscle mass and body water, some older adults may reach higher blood alcohol concentrations than younger people after consuming the same amount of alcohol.
  • “Body size and composition are significant factors in alcohol detoxification and tolerance regardless of age,” says Dr. Schwartz.
  • Stay within guidelines and avoid using alcohol as a means of dealing with problems such as insomnia, depression or pain.

Neurosurgeon suggests eating these foods for a brain-healthy breakfast

Alcohol can exacerbate conditions that are common in older individuals, such as high blood pressure, osteoporosis, diabetes, liver problems, ulcers, or impaired memory. It can be harder to spot alcohol use disorder or problem drinking in older adults who may be retired, living alone or socializing less because the signs are less overt, Koob said. There is also a reduction in a person’s body water as we age that contributes to a higher blood alcohol concentration, so the same dose of alcohol at a younger age has a much greater impact years later, Koob said. “The rapid growth in the number of drinkers over age 65 could place an increasing burden on our healthcare system,” he said.

aging and alcohol tolerance