A few years ago, I went on a health kick that included losing weight, getting regular exercise and stopping drinking. As I approached age 60, I thought all this would help me live longer and with a better quality of life. For the most part, I feel much healthier.
That is until I read a New York Times story the other day. It says that people over 60 who consume moderate amounts of alcohol have a reduced risk for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
So I may feel better because I don't drink, but I won't know it because I won't even know who I am. Now this could drive me back to drinking.
OK, so moderate drinking is what researchers are talking about. Does that mean one drink a night, which is seven drinks a week? No. . . it could be as many as 28 drinks a week. That means four drinks a night, every night -- seven days a week. Who are these people studying? People entering the Betty Ford Clinic?
In my day, we'd call 28 drinks a week alcoholism, not moderate drinking.
But back to the study. . . Compared with abstainers, reserachers found that male drinkers reduced their risk for dementia by 45% and women by 27%. No word on the impact of the drinking on their bodies. I'm betting they had their share of liver problems and were on a first-name basis with the cops at DUI checkpoints.
And according to my unofficial study, these moderate drinkers went through life looped on four drinks a day. Who cares if they could recognize their granchildren?
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Well, Opinionman, it seems this study is telling you to start drinking again. The only downside I can see is you won't get Alzheimer's and will know exactly how bad you feel as you age. Just kidding. I'm sure getting older will be fun.
ReplyDeleteI'm willing to do almost anything to keep my momory. Drinking more is a small price to pay to remember my kids name. Thanks for the OK to drink.
ReplyDeleteHow is the shot put practice coming along?
ReplyDelete4 drinks a night is considered borderline binge drinking.
ReplyDeleteRoger on that, Anonymous. . .
ReplyDeleteYou have made the right choice. . . It is important to consider the ramifications of all the things you put in your body when you get as old as 60. . . As the Kaiser commercial says, "Live well and thrive." I'm a believer.
ReplyDeleteYeah, baby. . . Be sober as you grow old and slobber all over yourself. No thanks. I'll drink my way into old age, thank you.
ReplyDelete