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Sunday, November 21, 2010

Older, Wiser, Drunker?

Before you pour Granny a second glass of Beaujolais Nouveau – there are a few things to consider first...

The older we are – the quicker the liquor. That’s because as we age, the levels of water in our body decreases. With less water to dilute that drink – blood alcohol levels go up higher and faster. Alcohol can really be a problem with prescription medication and with some over-the-counter types too. It takes older brains longer to bounce back after drinking - which means it could be a full 24 hours or longer for driving skills to rebound.

Remember that balance and falling are big concerns for most elderly people – it doesn’t take much alcohol to throw it off and get tipsy.

Source: David W. Oslin, MD, geriatric and addiction psychology, Philadelphia VA medical Center

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