Geriatrician and dementia specialist Dr. Elizabeth Landsverk explains to HuffPost that the effects of alcohol on the body vary depending on age. If moderate alcohol consumption is among your yearly goals, here’s what she wants you to know, writes Huffington Post.
How 1-2 alcoholic drinks per day affect the body at ages 20, 30, and 40
According to E. Landsverk, the third decade of life (from 20 to 30 years) is characterized by high resilience in the body – probably why hangovers are not as severe during this period. “At that time, the liver and brain are most resilient,” she said. “The frontal lobes of the brain (responsible for logical thinking and decision-making) are not yet fully developed. A person is more prone to drink more or take risks, which can form habits that cause problems in the future.”
After crossing the fourth decade and consuming alcohol, it is important not to forget overall health status. “Ask yourself: what is your overall health? Obesity, which has become an epidemic in America, increases the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease,” said E. Landsverk. “Alcohol increases the risk of liver diseases and cirrhosis. Alcohol also has neurotoxic effects, which can affect health over time.”
According to E. Landsverk, at forty, more health-related risk factors appear. “Obesity, diabetes, arterial hypertension, and high cholesterol increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and dementia caused by small vessel damage,” she said. If you suffer from any of these diseases, even a small amount of alcohol can further increase the likelihood of heart attack or stroke, so it is worth keeping this in mind.
How 1-2 alcoholic drinks affect the body at ages 50-60
According to E. Landsverk, at 50, even moderate alcohol consumption can harm the body. “Besides damage to blood vessels and increased risk of dementia, alcohol increases the likelihood of breast, esophageal, and liver cancer,” she said. Since cancer risk rises sharply with age, any amount of alcohol further increases it.
“Moreover, it becomes harder to sleep well as you age,” added E. Landsverk. “Substances like caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol worsen sleep quality.”
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At 60, you are likely to start feeling the effects of moderate alcohol consumption on your body.
“I can speak from experience: this is the age when alcohol tolerance can drastically decrease,” said E. Landsverk. “I am healthy. I can ski or swim a mile, but after a glass of wine, I feel bad and sluggish the next day.”
This is because older people often have reduced levels of the enzyme that breaks down alcohol (alcohol dehydrogenase). Older adults have smaller reserves in the brain, liver, and kidneys. Even one glass per day causes more damage to the brain (when you are over 60).
Alcohol can increase weight and blood sugar levels, and over decades – increase the risk of cancer and chronic diseases that worsen health. It is also important to remember that other factors, such as existing conditions like obesity or arterial hypertension, influence alcohol’s effects on health and well-being.
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