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Moderate intake of alcohol may increase the odds of making it to 90 or even over, a study claims.
A long-term research paper called The 90+ Study suggests that drinking alcohol is more efficient than exercising in extending people’s lifespans past the age of 90. According to the study, the desired effects can only be achieved if people drink moderate amounts of alcohol.
The study, led by neurologist, Claudia Kawas, from the University of California, and began in 2003, examined over 1.600 people with ages of 90 years old and above. According to the research paper, this “oldest-old” group is the fastest-growing age group in the United States.
Those who participated in The 90+ Study were visited every six months by the researchers involved in the project. During those visits, researchers conducted a series of tests on the participants, including neurological, neuropsychological, cognitive, and physical examinations. In addition, the researchers got hold of a wide array of information such as medical history, diet, and activities.
The study revealed that those who consumed about two glasses of alcohol were 18 percent less likely to suffer from a premature death. These alcohol beverages included wine and beer. Participants who exercised daily for around 15 to 45 minutes reduced their risk of premature death by 11 percent.
“I have no explanation for it, but I do firmly believe that modest drinking improves longevity,” said Kawas while at the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual conference in Austin, Texas.
The study adjusted for overweight subjects, where it found a 3 percent decreased chance of suffering a premature death compared to those of normal weight, or those who were underweight.
More so, researchers noticed that elderly people who drank two cups of coffee a day had a 10 percent lower mortality rate compared to those who didn’t drink coffee.
The participants who had the highest decline in mortality were those who practiced a hobby. According to the study, they were 21 percent less likely to die early.
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Rebecca McGhee
Rebecca McGhee is a valuable contributor for several publications and online platforms. Having graduates with a degree in Computer Science, her interest lies mostly in this area. Yet, she finds any tech-related topic or scientific topic is a challenge worth meeting. She enjoys turning her own research projects in worthy contributions that reach the large public. And mostly, she is grateful for all the feedback she receives from readers, as she believes it aids her in permanently improving her style of writing, beyond the scientific style she is accustomed to.
