Older adults beware! alcohol consumption tied to increased health risks

A new research published in the JAMA Network Open has shattered the claim that moderate alcohol consumption is protective for older adults

The study found that even low levels of drinking were linked to a higher risk of cancer death compared to those who drank only occasionally.
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The dangers escalate with increased alcohol intake, with moderate drinkers facing a greater risk of dying from cancer and other causes.
Heavy drinkers were found to be particularly at risk of cancer, heart disease, and premature death.
The study analysed data from over 135,000 people aged 60 and older who participated in the UK Biobank.
The study found a strong correlation between alcohol consumption and mortality rates.

The researchers assigned scores to individuals based on health risks and their neighborhood’s socioeconomic status. These participants were then monitored for an average of 12.4 years.
The findings revealed that compared to those who drank occasionally, individuals engaging in high-risk alcohol consumption were 33% more likely to die from any cause. This group also faced a heightened risk of death from cancer or heart disease.
Moderate drinkers were 10% more likely to die from any cause and 15% more likely to die from cancer than occasional drinkers. Even low-level alcohol consumption was linked to an 11% increased risk of death from cancer.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO), alcohol or alcoholic beverages contain ethanol, a psychoactive and toxic substance that can cause dependence.

The global health body said around 2.6 million deaths were caused by alcohol consumption in 2019. Of these, 1.6 million deaths were from noncommunicable diseases, 700 000 deaths from injuries and 300 000 deaths from communicable diseases.
“The alcohol-attributable mortality was heaviest among men, accounting for 2 million deaths compared to 600 000 deaths among women, in 2019.

“An estimated 400 million people, or 7% of the world’s population aged 15 years and older, lived with alcohol use disorders. Of this, 209 million people (3.7% of the adult world population) lived with alcohol dependence.
“Alcohol consumption, even at low levels can bring health risks, but most alcohol related harms come from heavy episodic or heavy continuous alcohol consumption,” WHO said.