A recent study suggests some surprising results about the potential benefits ofalcohol depending on your age!
Does alcohol have benefits for humans? These are the surprising conclusions of a study conducted by theInstitute for Health Measurement and Evaluation at the University of WashingtonSchool of Medicine and published in The Lancet on July 16.
A 30-year analysis
This study focused on alcohol consumption by age, not gender. It is often said that women drink less than men. In fact, the majority of drinkers are men, say the researchers.
They did, however, emphasize the age-related effects of alcohol on our bodies. Their analysis looked at 30 years of data on people aged 15 to 95, collected by the Institute in over 200 countries and tracking premature death and disability due to over 300 alcohol-related diseases.
For people under 40
For those under 40, there is no benefit to drinking alcohol, argue researchers at the University of Washington. No amount of alcohol, however small, is healthy for the body at these ages.
Alcohol, taken without moderation, leads to car accidents, injuries and homicides, which are the main reasons why alcohol is not recommended.
For those over 40
That’s the main point of this recent study. If you’re 40 or over and don’t have any major health problems, small amounts of alcohol could reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes andstroke.
« It turns out that these diseases are the leading causes of death in much of the world – said lead author Emmanuela Gakidou, before adding – So when you look at the cumulative impact on health, particularly in older people, it shows that a small amount is actually better for you than not drinking. »
However, these scientists also point out that alcohol can aggravate diseases such ashypertension and liver disease.
A controversial study
Without denigrating the authors, several scientists from outside the study have come out in disagreement. Colin Angus, a researcher at the University of Sheffield, disputes the supposed benefits of alcohol for the elderly.
In a press release, it states that there are« more than 14 times as many deaths attributable to alcohol in the UK among 70-74 year olds than among 20-24 year olds ».
London-based clinical researcher Dr Tony Rao was keen to respond: « We know that all the supposed health benefits of alcohol on the heart and circulation are outweighed by the increased risk of other conditions such as cancer, liver disease and mental disorders such as depression and dementia. »
Many other scientists have decided to raise their voices to express their concern about this study.