A new study conducted by scientists from the University College London is saying that hitting the bottle for up to four times a week can help older adults stay in shape. In contrast, they have found that those who are not in a physically good condition often avoided drinking alcohol, or even totally abstained from it. The study was conducted by studying the alcohol consumption patterns of over 30,000 men and women who were between the ages of 45 and 69.
The researchers say that subjects who drank up to four times a week were found to be in better health and were having the least amount of trouble doing physical activities such as walking, dressing up by themselves, eating, or reaching for things. Curiously, subjects of claim to have never consumed alcohol were in far worse physical conditions. In the published work that can be found in that Age and Aging journal, researchers said that, "Alcohol consumption was inversely associated with physical limitations in aging populations. Non-drinkers had the highest odds of physical limitations. The results are consistent with a small protective effect for physical limitations."
Paul Green, one of the subjects who was included in the over-50 group said, "People in their 50's and beyond have earned the right to be credited with some wisdom. They tend to eat and drink in migration. It's refreshing to see research which confirms that this is the best way to live."
Despite results of this study, however, Director Caroline Abrams of the Age UK Agency said that, "excessive drinking is a serious problem." In fact, there are still statistical data showing how alcohol-related deaths in the country have been increasing steadily over the years. These numbers include those that guy alcohol-related deaths among the elderly, showing how alcohol consumption, although potentially healthy in moderation, could still prove to be a health risk when done unreasonably and in excess.
