Zinc is an essential dietary mineral https://ecosoberhouse.com/ that plays a key role in immune system function, neurological development, DNA synthesis, cell growth, vitamin absorption, skin health, and other vital metabolic processes. No causal link was established between alcohol consumption and telomere shortening, but the study makes strong observational suggestions. Accelerated telomere shrinkage was only found in those who drink and not in those who had drunk previously or never at all. And the alcohol metabolism gene, AD1HB, was the strongest genetic predictor of telomere length. The most likely suspect, according to the study’s co-authors, is acetaldehyde — a toxic side product of breaking down ethanol. Acetaldehyde damages DNA and reduces the levels of antioxidant compounds that protect against oxidative stress.
Liver
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- Though the study did not compare the impact of binge drinking with spreading out alcohol consumption over the week, Topiwala expects the latter causes more aging as alcohol addicts were the most affected.
- Take the time to learn about alcoholism and alcohol abuse, including common signs, effects, and myths.
- Sleep deprivation raises your level of ghrelin (the hormone that makes you feel hungry) and lowers your level of leptin (the hormone that regulates fullness).
- However, starting in the mid-70s, a number of states lowered the legal drinking age to as young as 18 in response to the lowering of the age when one can vote.
Substance Abuse Treatment
If your blood pressure is too high, it raises your odds of developing heart attack and stroke. That’s why it’s so important to get your blood pressure checked regularly as you age, and to take medicine to control it if needed. Drinking alcohol with some diabetes medicines increases your chance of dangerous low blood sugar, and taking it with the blood-thinner warfarin could increase your chance does drinking alcohol age you of bleeding. Plus, “that old college rule of one drink of water for every drink of alcohol is really one of the best things you can do,” De Feis says. Some people think alcohol can help them to relax, socialize, or relieve stress. These people may drink or even misuse alcohol, which can cause a host of problems, even cancer—especially breast cancer.
Alcohol, age, and cancer risk
- One of the biggest risks as we age is the chance of falls.
- You might find yourself wanting a drink even at inappropriate times.
- A glass of wine that used to feel relaxing might now leave you feeling sluggish.
From time to time, most people enjoy an alcoholic beverage. However, alcohol abuse is known to bring negative health effects. For example, it can lead to liver damage, cancer, immune disorders, and brain damage. Also, it may worsen pre-existing conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. Besides a person’s health, drinking alcohol can have other negative effects on his or her body.
- Read more about the detrimental effects of alcohol on testosterone.
- “Our results highlight the negative impact of excessive alcohol consumption, such as binge drinking, on biological aging,” Nannini said.
- AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age.
- Monocytes play an important role in inflammation and aging process.
- Several factors combine to make drinking — even at normal levels — an increasingly risky behavior as you age.
More medications, more problems
Alcohol misuse can also lead to high blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), or increased heart rate. Chronic, heavy drinking raises the risk for ischemic heart alcohol rehab disease (heart problems caused by narrowed arteries) and myocardial infarction (heart attack). While moderate drinking may have mood-enhancing effects, excessive or chronic alcohol consumption is linked to an increased risk of mood disorders, anxiety, and depression. It’s essential to practice mindful drinking and seek professional help if you notice any negative effects on your mental well-being. Years of heavy drinking can significantly expedite aging.
