| It is New Year's Eve. You have one drink, then | | | | drinking confers benefits to the aging population. |
| another, then a third. You used to be able to chug | | | | Alcohol consumed in moderate amounts can raise |
| down 6 drinks without consequences. But lately, | | | | HDL levels of the so -called "good" cholesterol; it |
| you've noticed that things are a bit different. | | | | can also prevent blood clots, heart attacks and |
| Before dinner is over, you are wobbly; your | | | | ischemic strokes. Studies have demonstrated that |
| speech slurs. Before the night is over, you are | | | | men who drink one alcoholic beverage a day have |
| spread out on the floor. | | | | a significantly lower risk of death compared with |
| You've only had 3 drinks. What happened? | | | | those who rarely or never drink. A French study |
| Research shows alcohol has a much stronger | | | | completed in 2002 also shows that moderate |
| effect in the senior population than in younger | | | | drinking can lower the incidence of dementia in the |
| people. As you age, you absorb alcohol more | | | | aging population. |
| readily. So what used to be standard | | | | Despite these benefits, the dangers of alcohol are |
| twentysomething fare is way too much for you | | | | considerable. The incidents of driving problems are |
| now. | | | | high in the elderly population. Any potential benefit |
| There are reasons for this change. | | | | of alcohol is more than cancelled by the dangers in |
| 1.Your body's ratio of water to fat decreases as | | | | alcohol -related diseases such as addictive |
| you age; so there's less water to dilute the | | | | alcoholism, cirrhosis of the liver, high blood |
| alcohol. | | | | pressure and depression. Alcohol has also been |
| 2.Your aging body does not metabolize alcohol as | | | | shown to produce deficits in intellectual and |
| easily as it did in your youth; your body produces | | | | behavior functioning. It may accelerate normal |
| less liver enzymes that help break down alcohol. | | | | aging or cause premature aging of the brain. |
| 3.If you are on prescription or over-the-counter | | | | Magnetic Resonance Imaging techniques have |
| medication, alcohol can compound the risk of | | | | shown more extensive brain tissue loss in |
| collapse and falls; in fact, alcohol can produce an | | | | subjects with alcoholism than in those without |
| impaired effect with about half of the 100 drugs | | | | alcoholism. And research also shows that |
| used frequently by seniors. | | | | shrinkage of the frontal lobe increases with the |
| 4.The aging body has more body fat which does | | | | consumption of alcohol. |
| not absorb alcohol. | | | | So what can seniors do to understand their own |
| Changes in body chemistry that accompany the | | | | threshold of alcohol consumption? |
| aging process can certainly be seen as one factor | | | | Here are a few guidelines: |
| to explain the prevalence of alcoholism in seniors. | | | | 1 .If you don't drink, don't start. The risks far |
| The AMA estimates that about 3 million | | | | outweigh the benefits. |
| Americans over the age of 60 have a drinking | | | | 2 .If you do drink, limit yourself to one drink a |
| problem. At least 10 percent of patients who go | | | | day ( 4-5 drinks over the course of a week). |
| to an emergency room with alcohol related | | | | 3. Do not engage in binge drinking which can bring |
| problems are over 60 years of age. As much as | | | | about irregular heartbeat, elevated blood pressure, |
| 20 percent of elderly patients( 55 and older) in | | | | increased risk for heart disease and strokes. |
| emergency rooms exhibit symptoms of | | | | 4. If you are on medication, do not drink at all. |
| alcoholism. And in many nursing homes, the | | | | Even over the counter drugs such as ibuprofen, |
| problem of drinking is even more acute--as high | | | | aspirin or tylenol, when taken with alcohol, can |
| as 49 percent in some studies. | | | | damage stomach lining and cause liver problems. |
| In fact, researchers feel that these statistics are | | | | Alcohol, taken with antihistamines, is known to |
| much lower than what they are in reality. Because | | | | increase drowsiness and can lead to impaired |
| alcohol problems in the senior population are | | | | driving or accidents. |
| usually mistaken for other conditions associated | | | | 5. If you feel you have a drinking problem, consult |
| with the aging process, very often, alcohol abuse | | | | your physician and be proactive about getting |
| and alcoholism in the senior population may go | | | | treatment options. Call your local chapter of |
| undiagnosed and untreated. | | | | Alcoholics Anonymous or Rational Recovery for |
| Yet studies have also shown that moderate | | | | help. |