A tipple or two a day a good thing for the over-65s

Scientists in Britain say for the over-65s one or two drinks every day may be a good thing.

The researchers reached this conclusion after assessing the drinking levels of more than 13,000 people in England and the United States who were aged 65 and over.

They say for those over 65 regular, moderate drinking poses no additional risks and may even be beneficial for the health and is no more harmful to older people than it is to the young or middle-aged.

According to two studies from the Peninsula Medical School in the South West of England, moderate drinking when compared with abstinence is linked to better brain functioning, a better sense of well being and fewer depressive symptoms for men and women in their 60's.

The research team led by Dr. Iain Lang assessed the participants drinking levels and looked at the effects on physical disability, mortality, cognitive function, depression and well being and they found that moderate drinking is fine for the over-65s and, in some cases, is better than not drinking at all.

Dr. Lang says they are not advocating that elderly people should get drunk, but rather that the current guidelines on drinking for the elderly are too conservative.

He says a couple of drinks a day will do no harm and will have a more beneficial affect on cognitive and general health than abstinence.

Dr. Lang says British guidelines on alcohol consumption in older people are vague and it is suggested that moderate consumption might be too much for some older people; in Australia and New Zealand too older people are advised to 'consider drinking less'.

Dr. Lang says these recommendations are based on assumptions that the body as it ages, becomes less tolerant of alcohol and their findings show that this is not the case.

He says there is no evidence to suggest drinking at moderate levels is harmful to older people and it can in fact provide health benefits.

Their research showed that those drinking on average more than one to two drinks a day achieved similar health results as those drinking up to one drink a day and the worst results were from those who did not drink at all and those who were heavy drinkers.

The studies also found lower levels of risk of death or disability among English drinkers than Americans, although the authors say it is unclear why this is so.

The researchers concluded that over restrictive limits could do more harm because people ignore them or because effort is wasted trying to persuade them to give up alcohol when it is doing them no harm.

The research is published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society and Age.