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March 5, 2008Excessive Drinking Among the Elderly |
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From EurekAlert! - Breaking News: One out of ten elderly adults on Medicare reports drinking more alcohol than is recommended, according to a new study from Brandeis University. "Even though alcohol problems are more prevalent in younger people, a substantial proportion of older adults are consuming alcohol in amounts that exceed recommended guidelines," said study co-author Elizabeth Merrick, senior scientist at Brandeis University's Heller School for Social Policy and Management. The study sheds light on a complex problem that has received scant attention and is often missed by health care and other providers, she said. Merrick and her colleagues found that 9 percent engaged in unhealthy drinking---consuming more than thirty drinks per month, or drinking four or more drinks on any day in a typical month. The study, based on a 2003 Medicare survey, also reported that two-thirds of beneficiaries do not drink, while one-quarter drink within the recommended guidelines. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the American Geriatrics Society, risky drinking among those 65 years and older occurs when a person consumes more than seven drinks per week or more than three drinks on a single day. Alcohol can exacerbate some medical problems, reduce a person's ability to function, increase the risk of falls, and negatively interact with medication. There are many people for whom lower amounts or even any amount of alcohol may constitute a serious risk because of specific medical problems or medication interactions," explained Merrick. "All of these factors must be taken into account, along with the perhaps more highly publicized benefits of moderate drinking for some people."
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