Consuming alcohol, especially excessively, carries health risks, regardless of age. Nevertheless, as you get older, this risk becomes greater because, in particular, the body changes and is less tolerant of alcohol. What are the risks of too much consumption for an elderly person? What are the drinking recommendations for seniors?
We now know that drinking too much alcohol has health consequences, at any age. First in the short term. Alcohol and the state of drunkenness it causes have immediate repercussions on the brain. The alcoholic person is no longer in a state, for example, to drive, he can become aggressive and, following a very heavy consumption of alcohol, is unable to react to his environment, and even risks an alcoholic coma for the most severe form of alcoholism.
In the longer term, regular alcohol consumption contributes to the occurrence of serious diseases such as cancer, digestive, cardiovascular and nervous system diseases, or even causes mental disorders.
With age, all these risks exist of course, but they are increased tenfold. Indeed, as we age, the body tolerates the effects of alcohol less well, even when consumed in moderation. After age 65, drinking the same amount of alcohol as younger people leads to higher blood alcohol levels. In addition, in seniors, this blood alcohol level takes longer to drop.
The risks, for example, of falls, behavioral or cognitive disorders, or even mental confusion, which are already more frequent among the elderly, especially when they are suffering from diseases due to aging, are even greater among seniors when they consume alcohol.
Consuming more alcohol as you age is unfortunately not uncommon. A situation that can be more frequent because caused, for example, by significant events in certain periods of life such as the death of one's spouse, retirement, being isolated, etc.
Given the even greater effects of alcohol in the elderly, the French Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology, the French Society of Alcoholism, Public Health France and the National institute on alcohol abuse and alcoholism, in the United States, have developed specific recommendations for seniors.
Thus, it is recommended for an elderly person who consumes alcohol every day not to exceed one glass of alcohol during their daily consumption, and to reserve days without any alcohol drink in the week.
Seniors who drink alcohol occasionally are also advised not to drink more than 2 glasses of alcohol each time, not to consume alcohol at least 2 days a week, and not to exceed 7 glasses of alcohol per week.
On the other hand, because the elderly are more affected by illnesses with advancing age, and therefore by the taking of medication, one should be wary of the link, which can prove to be harmful, between the consumption of alcohol and drug treatment.
Alcohol can indeed reduce the effectiveness of drugs or increase the risk of their adverse effects. This is why, and especially for seniors who consume alcohol regularly, it is very important to inform your doctor who will judge the possible risks.
In general, health professionals agree that there is obviously no age to be able to control your alcohol consumption. Of course, even people over the age of 65 can see benefits from cutting down or even quitting alcohol.
In any case, a senior who pays more attention to his alcohol consumption improves his quality of life, makes sure to delay his loss of autonomy, improves his cognitive abilities, but also his mood on a daily basis.
