Older adults can hold their liquer just as well as their kids.

Despite US recommendations that elderly people curb their drinking more than young people, an article in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society from January of this year reports that elderly people actually have no more difficulty managing activities of daily living or on cognitive tests when drinking than their younger counterparts.

clipped from www.aafp.org Older age is associated with increased sensitivity to alcohol. Because of this, some nations (e.g., the United States) have lower recommendations for safe alcohol limits in persons 65 years or older. A pooled analysis using data from HRS and ELSA included 5,759 men and 7,574 women; a longitudinal analysis using HRS data included 2,338 men and 3,698 women; and a longitudinal analysis using ELSA data included 1,152 men and 1,471 women. Over a four-year period, there were no statistically significant differences in any outcome measures related to a rise in drinking level There did not appear to be any statistically significant health or mortality risk increase in older persons consuming greater than one to two drinks of alcohol per day. The benefits of moderate alcohol consumption on disability and mortality probably occur through cardiovascular risk reduction. guidelines for older adults need not be overly restrictive relative to recommendations for younger adults.