This study examined the health effects of moderate drinking among older women. It also looked at the effects of smoking on health.

I. The Study

Researchers wanted to learn if the health effects of moderate drinking persisted into old age among women. They also looked at smoking tobacco.  To do so, they examined drinking, smoking, and measures of health. Also, they looked at the death rate.  The participants were 9,704 women age 65 or older. The researchers then followed them up after 10 and 20 years.

Findings

How did moderate drinkers compare with never-drinkers? After both 10 and 20 years, moderate drinkers had

• • Lower death rates.
  • Better health.
  • Lower rates of living in a nursing home.
  • Less difficulty with activities of daily living.
  • Faster walking speed.
  • Greater grip strength.

How did smokers compare with non-smokers? That’s no surprise. Smokers had much poorer health and were much more likely to die.

In short, the researchers found that moderate drinking is good for health and long life among older women. Of course, tobacco smoking is bad for health and long life.

The harmful results of smoking is well-known. Less well-known among the public is that moderate drinking benefits both health and long life.

Health Tips

There are three major ways to improve health and reduce risk of diseases. They also increase the chances of having a long life. They’re simple, but some may be hard to achieve.

• • Don’t smoke.
  • Maintain proper weight.
  • Drink alcohol in moderation. It can be beer, wine, and/or spirits. Spirits are whiskey, rum, vodka, etc.

Remember that beer, wine, and distilled spirits have the same general health benefits.

II. Resources: Drinking among Older Women

Web Pages

• • Drinking and Women’s Health: Alcohol’s Long-Term Effects.
  • Moderate Drinking Improves Quality of Life among Women.
  • Alcohol and Total Death Risk among Women.
  • Risk of Osteoporosis and Drinking Alcohol.
  • Drinkers Live Longer: Why Does Drinking Increase Length of Life?
  • Drinking Alcohol and Risk of Frailty: Is Drinking Good or Bad?
  • Risk of Osteoporosis and Drinking Alcohol.
  • Drinkers Live Longer: Why Does Drinking Increase Length of Life?
  • Drinking Alcohol and Risk of Frailty: Is Drinking Good or Bad?
  • Do Older Adults Drink Enough Alcohol for Good Health?
  • Drinking and Dementia, Alzheimer’s, & Memory Loss.
  • Lifestyle and Cardiovascular Disease & Mortality among Middle-Aged & Older Women.
  • Drinking Alcohol and Falls among Older Adults.
  • Moderate Alcohol Drinking, Senility, and Longevity.
  • Drinking and Frailty.
  • Risk of Dementia Reduced by Drinking Alcohol in Moderation.
  • Benefits of Moderate Drinking Result from Alcohol Itself.
  • Do Older Adults Drink Enough Alcohol for Good Health?

Popular Books

• • Assn Women’s Health. Cardiovascular Health for Women. Wash: The Assn, 2003.
  • Carlson, K., et al. Guide to Women’s Health. Cambridge: Harvard U Press, 2012.
  • Norsigian, J. Our Bodies, Ourselves. NY: Touchstone, 2011.
  • Olshansky, E., and Prevost, S. Women’s Health. Philadelphia: Saunders, 2009.
  • Thurston, W., et al. Rural Women’s Health. Toronto: U Toronto Press, 2012.

Source

Nelson H. et al. Associations of Smoking, Moderate Alcohol Use, and Function. Geron Geri Med, 2018, 4, 1–9.

Note

This site gives no advice. Please see a doctor for that.