Elderly individuals exhibit a higher consumption of alcohol compared to their younger counterparts
In a surprising turn, a study challenges the long-held belief that people drink less as they age due to health issues. The research, focused on individuals born between 1935 and 1955, reveals an increase in dangerous alcohol consumption among elderly Europeans, particularly among males aged 65 and older. Notably, 13% of men and 3% of women in the same age group were found to be prone to binge drinking.
This trend, particularly evident in countries like Italy where 32.4% of male seniors (65-74 years) reported binge drinking in 2022 compared to 8.6% of females, raises public health concerns due to the known association of heavy alcohol use with increased risks of neurodegenerative diseases, cognitive impairment, and dementias such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Factors contributing to this increase include: demographic shifts with a growing elderly population living longer and drinking more than previous generations, changing social patterns, and possible impact of different types of alcohol, with spirits linked to more detrimental brain effects than wine.
Prevention measures being considered or implemented in Europe typically involve public health campaigns targeting the elderly to raise awareness about the risks of alcohol overuse, screening and early intervention programs in healthcare settings to identify problematic drinking in seniors, policies to limit availability or harmful marketing of high-alcohol content beverages, and systematic screening and preventive measures.
However, the study did not specify the exact definition of "dangerous" or "binge" drinking. Moreover, no clear data connects these patterns to Russia's alcohol sales or psychoses directly from the provided information.
In Russia, addiction specialists like Shurov have reported an increase in alcohol-induced psychoses. The increase in life expectancy has led to a rise in the number of elderly people with alcohol dependence, with loss of loved ones and depression identified as factors increasing the likelihood of binge drinking.
To address this issue, psychological support, information on stress management, and alcohol harm awareness are considered essential measures. Shurov, a Russian addiction specialist, has previously reported that daily beer consumption indicates dependency.
A study published in the Alcohol Clin Exp Res journal found that 30% of men and 10% of women born between 1935 and 1955 in Finland and Sweden consume alcohol in dangerous amounts. The study, however, did not specify the exact definition of "dangerous" or "binge" drinking.
In conclusion, dangerous alcohol consumption is rising among elderly Europeans, particularly men, influenced by demographic and social factors, with significant health risks including dementia and cardiovascular diseases worsened by alcohol. Prevention focuses on awareness and early intervention, but no clear data connects these patterns to Russia's alcohol sales or psychoses directly from the provided results. Alcohol harm awareness and preventive measures are crucial in preventing alcoholism among seniors, both in Europe and Russia.
The increasing trend of dangerous alcohol consumption among elderly Europeans, particularly among men, is linked to mental health concerns, as heavy alcohol use contributes to an elevated risk of neurodegenerative diseases, cognitive impairment, and dementias such as Alzheimer’s disease.
The study, published in the Alcohol Clin Exp Res journal, highlights that 30% of men and 10% of women born between 1935 and 1955 in Finland and Sweden consume alcohol in dangerous amounts, indicating a potential mental health issue among this demographic.
