People over 65 years should drink less than the recommended limits in order to protect their body and mind, and also to prevent getting addicted, according to a report presented by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
If, until now, the limit for men over 65 years old was 3-4 units of alcohol per day, experts recommend now about 1.5 units, the equivalent of a glass of wine.Women who have passed 65 years should not exceed one unit of alcohol (half a pint of beer) daily compared to 2-3, as recommended before.
“As we get older, the risk of memory loss increases, and the ability to get rid of alcohol from blood is much lower. Therefore, the limits that we consider safe may harm older men”, warns Dr. Tony Rao, consultant in elderly psychiatry and author of the report issued by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
The liver works slower
One of the reason is that older body contains less water and more fat, and liver takes longer to break down alcohol and eliminate it from the body. Therefore, the brain is affected more quickly, increasing the risk of developing memory and coordination problems, which could end up in falls and fractures.