Finally. Some good news about drinking and aging. According to a new Harvard study, middle-aged women who drink alcohol in moderation have a better chance than nondrinkers of staying healthy as they age, particularly if consumption is spread out over most days of the week.
The study began tracking approximately 14,000 mostly white women in 1976. Compared with teetotalers, it found those who averaged roughly three to 15 alcoholic drinks per week in their late 50s had up to 28 percent higher odds of being free from chronic illness, physical disability, mental health problems and cognitive decline at age 70.
The findings don't necessarily apply to men or to nonwhite women. They do, however, add to the evidence that people who drink in moderation are less likely than nondrinkers or heavy drinkers to experience health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and dementia, says Qi Sun, M.D., lead author of the study and a nutrition researcher at the Harvard School of Public Health, in Boston.
How many glasses of wine do you drink per night ?
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