UK: Over 45s more likely to drink every day

LONDON, England / The Daily Mail / Health / March 9, 2012

The middle-aged of middle England are far more likely than young people to have a daily tipple, official figures revealed yesterday.

While young adults are more prone to binge-drinking, those over 45 are three times as likely as younger people to drink alcohol almost every day.

Very few young men in their teens and early 20s drink daily, and even fewer women. But more than one in eight of those over 45 drinks practically every day. 

And when it comes to men of pensionable age, more than one in five opens a can or bottle of beer, wine or spirits every day.

Just over a fifth of men aged 65 and over drinking almost every day compared with just three per cent of men aged 16 to 24

The figures shift the focus away from young people when it comes to the abuse of alcohol.

Binge-drinking by the young has made them the target of frequent criticism for bringing scenes of violence and disorder to many city centres at weekends. But the findings from the Office for National Statistics reveal a picture of steady drinking by the middle-aged who are ‘taking unnoticed risks with their health’, according to one expert.

People in nearly 8,000 homes were questioned for the General Lifestyle Survey which found that 13 per cent of people over 45 – more than one in eight – drink ‘almost every day’. That compares to 4 per cent of younger people. ‘The evidence suggests that adults tend to drink more often as they get older,’ the ONS said.

For men over the age of 65, 22 per cent – more than one in five – drink almost every day.

They outnumber young men by more than seven to one – among men aged 16 to 24 only 3 per cent drink almost every day. Among women it is 12 to one. Twelve per cent of those over 65 drink daily compared to 1 per cent of teenagers and twenty-somethings.

The findings confirmed that middle-income earners drink more than working-class people.

In the homes of people with managerial or professional jobs, 40 per cent of men and 35 per cent of women drink more than the Government’s recommended safe levels, which are set at a maximum of four units daily for men and three for women. A unit of alcohol is half a pint of beer, while a small glass of wine amounts to 1½ units.

Fewer than a third of people in the homes of those with jobs classed as routine or manual drink over the limits. There is also more heavy drinking in middle-income homes.

But younger people remain more likely than their elders to be binge-drinkers. Just under a quarter of men below the age of 45 had drunk the equivalent of more than four pints of beer in a day in the week before they were asked the question, but only 20 per cent of men aged 45 to 64, and 7 per cent of pensioner men.

Just under a fifth of young women had drunk heavily recently, but only 11 per cent of those over 45 and 2 per cent of over-65s.

Eric Appleby, of Alcohol Concern, said: ‘These new statistics expose the hidden truth about alcohol and middle England.

‘The middle-aged middle classes are taking unnoticed risks with their health, increasing their likelihood of suffering illnesses such as liver disease, stroke and cancer.’

Chris Sorek, of Drinkaware, said: ‘Although it can be easy to find excuses to drink after a long day, many people are unaware that they are putting themselves at risk.’

The survey also found that only one in five people now smokes, compared to an estimated four out of five in the early 1950s and 45 per cent of the population in 1974.

Associated Newspapers Ltd

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UK: More elderly in London 'seek drink problem help'

LONDON, England / BBC News / UK / January 8, 2012

There has been a rise in the number of elderly people being treated for drinking problems in London, according to figures compiled for BBC Inside Out London.

There has been a sharp rise in the number of elderly people being treated for drinking problems in London, figures suggest.

Figures compiled for BBC Inside Out London by the NHS Information Centre reveal over the past 10 years, there has been a 163% increase in alcohol-related hospital admissions for the over-65s.

The rate is rising faster for the over-65s than any other age group in the UK, and only north-east England has a higher rate of these admissions than London.

Older people are much more likely to drink every day than those of other ages, according to an NHS study into alcohol use.

While the rest of the population is drinking slightly less, and slightly less often on average, this is not the case for older people, it said.

Prof Tony Rao, from the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych), said: "London is a bit of a pressure point.

"Within London there are areas like Hammersmith and Fulham, Southwark and Camden with even higher rates of death [than the rest of England] from alcohol-related illnesses."

The RCPsych claims GPs are missing the problems of elderly drinkers through a combination of time constraints, lack of expertise and the reluctance of older people to ask for help.

Dr Claire Gerado, who chairs the Royal College of GPs, said: "I think we focus far too much on the young ones.

"We do that because the young ones are more visible - they vomit in streets. You don't tend to see a retired 70-year-old bank manager vomiting in the street.

"But it's just as much of a problem for people drinking at the other end of life as it is for the young ones."

NHS research has found older drinkers often regard excessive drinking problems as a taboo subject.

They may also think it is too late to get help, that services are not designed for them, or they may think that they do not have a problem in the first place.

'Never an issue'

Health experts cite a range of reasons for older people drinking heavily including boredom, loneliness, change in lifestyle - usually retirement, bereavement and as a form of self-medication.

But there are very few services which offer specific support for elderly drinkers.

One of the few to target work specifically with the elderly in London is the charity Foundation 66, which has seen an increasing number of senior citizens seeking help.

The charity's Sean Dudley said: "It's interesting that 40% of people who are accessing our service have never accessed an alcohol service previously.

"For them, drinking became problematic probably in their late-40s, their 50s and 60s, whereas previously it was never an issue."

One Hammersmith resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, is in recovery for a drinking problem that started relatively late in her life.

"I didn't drink hardly at all before age of 60, just sherry maybe, but then I just took off," she said.

"I had lots and lots of upsets with the family, they just couldn't cope and hadn't seen me drinking before - it was out of control, completely out of control.

"I had time on my hands, I met other people who liked a drink and I continued when I went home.

"I think I just stopped in time, because it was getting to the stage where I was not recovering. I couldn't get off [the] floor."

She is now in recovery for her alcoholism at a centre run by Foundation 66.

BBC © 2012

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CANADA: What wines work for an older palate?

TORONTO, Ontario / The Globe and Mail / Life / December 7, 2011

FOOD & WINE

Ask A Wine Expert

By Beppi Crosariol

iStockPhoto

The question: My wife and I have just turned 70, and along with this comes false teeth that significantly affects your taste. Most white wines, unless very fruity, are not particularly distinctive, and the reds have to be full-bodied to really register. Do you happen to have any recommendations for wines with a strong rather than subtle flavour? My wife prefers merlot, while I tend to prefer a cabernet sauvignon. This getting old is not fun!

The answer: Your candour on this sometimes sensitive issue is appreciated.

Palate sensitivity, like a lot of things, starts to sag when you get on in years. It depends on genetics and health, of course. Some people can go nose to nose with a hound dog well into their 80s. But, generally speaking, once you cross to the wiser side of 65, taste buds lose their edge. I don’t know much about dentures (yet), but I’ll take your word for it.

I’ve received similar letters, including one from an octogenarian looking to offload his old Bordeaux treasures because – though otherwise in fine health – he simply gets less pleasure from his investment. Admitting you’re off your game, taste-wise, is sort of like admitting you no longer have the reflexes to drive a car. It’s a pride issue.

My suggestion: Explore New World wines. Sunny climates in many major regions outside Europe, such as much of California, South Australia, Chile and Argentina, tend to produce fuller-flavoured, highly fruity wines, the kind you seem to enjoy. You may have heard the term fruit bomb. Usually it’s used as a pejorative to describe warm-climate reds. In your case, it may have appealing resonance.

I’d side with you over your wife on the grape issue. Cabernet sauvignon is one of the most full-bodied and powerful wines, though smooth and plummy merlot is another good option. British Columbia makes some gorgeous, full-bodied merlot-based reds. Two other good choices include shiraz from Australia, particularly from the hot Barossa Valley, and red zinfandel from California. Fruit bombs don’t come any more explosive than Barossa shiraz or California zin. People who prefer white wines may want to try highly aromatic, fruity styles, such as New Zealand sauvignon blanc, Argentine torrontes, California moscato (usually semi-sweet) or gewurztraminer from Canada.

There’s a trade-off with some of the reds I’ve listed, though. They tend to carry high alcohol, which contributes body and power. That can be especially unwelcome with advanced age. Hangovers are no way to spend part of your retirement. And a tipsy head won’t cut it if you want to keep driving.

© Copyright 2011 The Globe and Mail Inc.

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USA: Alcohol can cause many problems in older people

DANBURY, Connecticut / Danbury News Times / Article / October 5, 2011

Bridgeport geriatrician Dr. Beata Skudlarska of Bridgeport Hospital Center for Geriatrics, Stratford, CT, answers questions for this feature.

Q: My husband, who is 66, is a recovering alcoholic who has been dry for about three years. I have been reading about dementia and alcoholism. He drank heavily on and off for 30 to 40 years. In addition to that, he is a diabetic with neuropathy and has atrial fibrillation. He has little mobility, shuffles with a cane, and still drives. Much of the time he displays a quick wit and an interest in science-related topics, as well as political issues. However, he is experiencing memory problems, asking such questions as "Where are my keys?" and "Did she die a whole year ago? I thought it was just a month or two." He has gone from being gregarious and personable to quiet. We have seen a neurologist who looked at CT scans and reported that the neuropathy was not as bad as expected and that his brain has shrunk considerably. I am looking for an expert on this kind of dementia in the Seattle area. Do you have any ideas?  - Reader from Seattle

A: Quite a lot of press has been given in recent years to the potential health benefits of alcohol. Light to moderate consumption of alcohol has been associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and dementia. Geriatric doctors wonder if the personality profiles and social characteristics of those who drink safe amounts may be responsible for this apparent protective effect more than the alcohol itself.

Many mature people overuse alcohol and do not report it to their doctor. Since they are often retired and do not have to show up for work or interact with other people, their habit gets unnoticed. Women also are more likely to start drinking at a later age.

It is estimated that about 8 percent of people in the U.S. over 65 may have an alcohol abuse problem. About 60 percent of the elderly drink and 5 to 10 percent are binge drinkers. It may be hard to believe, but Medicare, which is the major insurance for patients over 65, spends more on alcohol-related problems than on treatment for heart attacks.

Illustrative photo courtesy: the retreatcentre

There is no standard definition of what is a "safe" amount of alcohol when you get older. It is generally accepted that one 5-ounce glass of wine, one bottle of beer, or one 1.5-ounce shot of hard liquor a day is safe if you are a mature woman. You should be able to have one to two days in a week without any alcohol. Men tend to tolerate alcohol more and can have twice as much of it daily.

Age-related changes in our body mean that equivalent amounts of alcohol produce higher blood alcohol concentrations in older people. So, if you drank a certain amount as a younger person, when you get older, that same amount is likely to affect you much more.

Alcohol abuse in elderly people causes widespread impairments in physical, psychological, social and cognitive health. All aspects of their lives are touched. Serious medical disorders among elderly people who misuse alcohol are much more common than among the overall population of a similar age. Having more major illnesses, poorer self-perceived health status, more visits to the doctor, more depressive symptoms and less satisfaction with life are all reported by alcohol abusers. They also tend to have smaller social networks than non-heavy drinkers and people who have never drunk.

Excessive drinking makes you prone to hip fractures. This increase can be explained by falls while intoxicated, combined with a more pronounced decrease in bone strength in elderly persons with alcoholism compared with elderly nonalcoholics.

Alcohol-involved traffic crashes are an important cause of trauma and death in all age groups. The elderly are the fastest-growing segment of the driving population. In addition, older drivers tend to be more seriously injured than younger drivers in crashes of equivalent magnitude. Age may interact with alcoholism to increase driving risk. For example, an elderly driver with alcoholism is more impaired than an elderly driver without alcoholism after consuming an equivalent dose of alcohol, and has a greater risk of a crash.

To continue reading this feature, click here

© 2011 Hearst Communications Inc

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Seniors World Chronicle, a not-for-profit, serves to chronicle and widen their reach.

AUSTRALIA: Eight glasses of water advice 'nonsense'

SYDNEY, NSW / The Sydney Morning Herald / Life & Style / Wellbeing / July 14, 2011

Water wise ... over consumption of water can be harmful, warns GP.

The standard advice to drink eight glasses of water a day has been damned in one of the world's most esteemed medical journals, despite it being a recommendation of government health departments around the world.

"This is not only nonsense," Scottish GP, Margaret McCartney, writes in an opinion piece published in the latest British Medical Journal, it is "thoroughly debunked nonsense".

Dr McCartney dismissed dehydration concerns as a myth, writing that the true beneficiaries of the eight glasses a day mantra are the bottled water companies.

Britain's Hydration for Health initiative recommends drinking up to two litres (eight glasses) per day and claims that "even mild hydration plays a role in the development of various diseases."

But as Dr McCartney highlights, the initiative is sponsored by a "vested interest" - the French food manufacturer Danone, makers of Evian and Volvic bottled waters.

In support of her argument against excessive water consumption, Dr McCartney cites several studies, including a 2002 paper published in the American Journal of Physiology, which states: "Not only is there no scientific evidence that we need to drink that much, the recommendation could be harmful, both in precipitating potentially dangerous hyponatremia and exposure to pollutants."

Hyponatremia is a rare but potentially fatal condition, in which the body’s salt levels drop leading to swelling of the brain.

The Scottish GP also refuted the theory that drinking water aids weight loss by reducing appetite. Dr McCartney quotes American metabolism expert, Professor Stanley Goldfarb of the University of Pennsylvania, who says, "there is no evidence that drinking water before meals reduces appetite during a meal."

"It would seem, therefore, that water is not a simple solution to multiple health problems," she concludes.

Copyright © 2011 Fairfax Media
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CHINA: Wine part of liver treatment

SHANGHAI, China / The Shanghai Daily / Metro / Courts / July 13, 2011

By Jia Feishang

A LOCAL hospital yesterday was told to compensate a man who was given a glass of wine a day as part of treatment for his alcohol-damaged liver.

The patient, Le Changjiu, claimed the daily 200-milliliter ration of rice wine - a Chinese alcoholic drink brewed from rice - worsened his cirrhosis of the liver.

The hospital, which was not named, was ordered by Jing'an District People's Court to compensate Le almost 100,000 yuan (US$15,450).

Le, in his late 40s, was hospitalized on July 28, 2008, and diagnosed with alcoholic hepatitis and alcohol withdrawal syndrome.

Wine was included in the treatment to wean Le off alcohol. Le's liver deteriorated further.

The court ruled the hospital was partly responsible.

Copyright © 2001-2011 Shanghai Daily Publishing House
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Seniors World Chronicle, a not-for-profit, serves to chronicle and widen their reach.

UK: One of three older people with alcohol problems develop them late in life

LONDON, England / The Guardian / Life & Style /  June 27, 2011

Dr Luisa Dillner's guide to . . . drink and drugs in old age

 

Older men are more at risk from alcohol than women.  

Photograph: Piotr Powietrzynski/Getty Images

If you'd planned to spend your twilight years knocking back sherry, you should read the latest report from the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Our Invisible Addicts says that people over 65 should ration their tipples. One and a half units a day is the recommended amount – less than half the amount for younger people. And you need to stop any illicit drug habits that you've kept on from earlier years. You may even need to look at the medicines you're taking because chances are, by the time you're over 65, you might not be taking them properly. About a third of those over 65 take four or more prescribed drugs a day.

Is drug abuse really a problem in older people?
Over-45s are treated as older people when it comes to abusing drugs, and in the north-west of England the proportion of over-45s seeking help for drug taking increased from 6.4% in 2003/4 to 10% in 2006/7.

What about alcohol?
About 21% of older men (over 65) drink more than four units of alcohol at least one day a week, as do 10% of women. This is on the increase in both sexes. Bereavement, loneliness, chronic or painful illness, difficulty in sleeping and depression can all lead to drinking more. Older men are more at risk than women. The report says 14% of men and 3% of women over 65 binge drink, although they tend to do so at home.

Does alcohol affect you differently as you get older?
Older people are more likely to be taking prescription drugs that interact with alcohol. They also have a reduction in their body water-to-fat ratio, which means less water to dilute the alcohol in. Blood flow to the liver is reduced, too, and on arrival there, the liver enzymes are less able to cope with alcohol. Alcohol has a stronger and faster depressant effect on the brain, causing memory loss and problems with coordination. It can therefore cause confusion and falls (more rapidly than in younger people). Elderly drivers are three times more likely to be involved in a car accident if they have been drinking. The Royal College of Physicians says 60% of people who repeatedly go into hospital with confusion or falls at home could have alcohol problems.

What can I do about it?
Well, you can be honest with yourself about how much you are drinking, or if you are still taking any illegal drugs. The report was written to encourage doctors to ask about these problems – they usually don't because they think older people just knit and drink tea.

Up to one third of older people with alcohol problems develop them later in life – often in response to loss and stress. A high intake of alcohol in older people can contribute to dementia (a different sort to other dementias), other mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, and liver disease. Not to mention falling over and hurting yourself. If you are concerned about your drinking, see your GP.

How much is safe to drink?
The report's guidelines says a safe limit is 1.5 units per day or 11 a week. A unit is half a pint of beer or 50ml of sherry. A small glass of wine (12% alcohol by volume) is one and a half units.

© Guardian News and Media Limited

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Seniors World Chronicle, a not-for-profit, serves to chronicle and widen their reach.

CROATIA: Half Glass of Wine a Day – Four Years Longer Life

. ZAGREB, Croatia / Javno / Lifestyle / May 1, 2009


Translated by Lajla Mlinarić Blake

ALCOHOL AND LONGEVITY
Dutch scientists claim that people who drink half a glass of wine a day live four years longer than people who do not drink alcohol.

Half a glass of wine a day can extend your life by four years, according to scientists. A study conducted on 1,400 middle-aged men and women over a period of 40 years has shown that the regular intake of any type of alcoholic beverage increases life expectancy. The longest longevity was noted in people who drank half a glass of wine a day. It was proven that they live four to 4.5 years longer than people who abstain from alcohol. The study also indicated that people who drink two glasses of wine or beer a day live two years longer than people who do not drink alcohol.

The study which arrived at these results was conducted by scientists from the Wageningen University in The Netherlands. They studied the life style of men and women born between 1900 and 1920. Still, those who overdo it with alcohol usually suffer from various chronic diseases and have a higher probability of injuries as well.

Copyright © 2006-2008 Javno.com

USA: Older Drinkers Less Able to Judge When They're Drunk

NEW YORK, NY / TIME / Health & Science / March 5, 2009 By Tiffany Sharples

Tim Pannell/Corbis

For all their admonitions about responsible drinking, it turns out that older adults aren't as good as young ones about knowing when to stop. After drinking the same amount of alcohol as their younger counterparts, older adults are not only more impaired than younger ones, but less likely to believe they are. In a new study published in this month's issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, researchers recruited 42 adults: half were between the ages of 50 and 74, and half were aged 25 to 35. The participants were given either alcoholic drinks — roughly equivalent to a couple of glasses of wine — or placebo beverages, then asked to perform tasks designed to test their motor skills. They were also asked to rate their level of intoxication on a scale of 1 to 10. While the older people were more impaired by the alcohol, they also consistently underestimated their drunkenness. That may be because over the years, people become inured to the effects of social drinking, says Dr. Sara Jo Nixon, the senior researcher on the paper. "It's a subtle effect," she says. "It's not one of those where you readily think, 'Oh my God, I shouldn't be driving.'" And that's precisely the danger, says Nixon, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Florida who specializes in substance abuse. She and her colleagues wanted to study the effects of a relatively small amount of alcohol, the amount adults — mature adults, that is — might typically consume at dinner or in other social settings where drinking isn't the main event. Researchers tailored the composition of their cocktails — a mixture of medical-grade alcohol and limeade — to the participants' weight and gender, to achieve an average blood-alcohol content of .04%, half the legal driving limit in most states of .08%. Nixon was surprised by the results. "We often want to say that if we are below a legal limit, there are no consequences. That just isn't true," she says. Though older participants considered themselves only marginally impaired, on average, they were about five seconds slower in completing the motor-skills tasks. "That doesn't seem like much," Nixon says. "But it's an awfully long time if you're moving your foot from the gas to the brake." Alcohol researchers parse the effects of intoxication — both on the ascending arm of the curve, in which people are on the road to drunkenness, and the descending arm, as the booze wears off. Generally speaking, on the upward slope, alcohol has a stimulating effect — "social lubrication," says Nixon. But on the down slope, as the alcohol is metabolized, its effects are more sedating. To measure the relationship between people's actual and perceived impairment along this continuum, researchers tested subjects twice, at 25 min. and 75 min. after they'd begun drinking. The two motor-skills tasks used to measure actual impairment were akin to connect-the-dots, but slightly more complicated. The first test simply required participants to draw lines between numbered dots in order; the second required them to alternate between numbers and letters in order as they connected the dots. ________________________________________ Does Age Bring Wisdom? The greatest gift one generation can give another is the wisdom it has gained from experience. Photographer Andrew Zuckerman visits with some of the world's most celebrated individuals — all of them older than 65 — to see what we can learn from them. (See pictures of the world's most celebrated senior citizens.) _________________________________________ Compared with the 20- and 30-somethings, older adults believed they were less impaired as the alcohol's effects first hit; later, however, as they started sobering up, they perceived themselves as much more affected. "On the ascending limb, the [older] adults who got alcohol performed significantly more poorly, but they didn't think they were impaired," Nixon says. "On the descending limb, the older adults thought they were impaired, but at that point alcohol didn't have any impact on their performance." As to why the more seasoned social drinkers may be out of sync, Nixon says, "Older adults are mentally more sensitive to the sedative effect." Prior to the study, all participants were carefully screened for health problems; those who had serious chronic medical conditions were ruled out, as were cigarette smokers, substance abusers and the extremely overweight. However, several participants in both age groups were taking over-the-counter or prescription medications for conditions ranging from depression to high blood pressure, a situation that accurately reflects the general population, says Nixon. Researchers deliberately chose "young" adults around 30 to make sure they were at least several years removed from the undergraduate binge-drinking culture. She notes that the less consistently people binge-drink, the more vulnerable they become to the effects, and after-effects, of alcohol (which is why you rarely hear a college kid complaining, "I can't drink like I used to"). "We didn't want that age group where there's really a lot of heavier drinking on a regular basis," Nixon says. "We wanted college graduates who had only histories of moderate drinking." Past studies have suggested that people metabolize alcohol more slowly as they age and it takes them longer to clear alcohol from their system; alcohol may also alter brain chemistry differently in older folks. (That's why Nixon warns people against going out drinking with their parents. "You'll embarrass both of you," she says.) But the discrepancies in impairment between age groups in the current study were not attributable to differences in metabolism. Despite self-perceived differences in intoxication, actual increases in blood-alcohol content happened at similar rates in both age groups — which may be due in part to the fact that these older adults were healthier and more robust than average, says Nixon. Nonetheless, says Nixon, older people should probably pay better attention to their own social-drinking habits. "Make sure you've given yourself adequate time to metabolize," she says. One drink per hour is probably a safe bet on average. "It's not bad advice for any age group, but it may be particularly fitting for older drinkers," says Nixon. She also suggests that physicians and other health-care providers ask their patients more probing questions about alcohol consumption. Too often, she says, the issue is addressed perfunctorily: "Do you drink?" Check. "Socially?" Check. Then the doctor moves on. Instead, Nixon thinks providers should instigate a conversation, asking questions that raise self-awareness: Are you still having wine with dinner? How much? Why? "It doesn't make you 'old' to monitor your drinking," Nixon says. Just smart. © 2009 Time Inc.

USA: Directory of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Treatment Programs Now Available

ROCKVILLE, MD (SAMHSA Press Release), June 12, 2008: A new, updated guide to finding local substance abuse treatment programs is now available from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). National Directory of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Treatment Programs 2008 provides information on more than 11,000 approved alcohol and drug treatment programs located in all 50 states and territories. The directory gives information on levels of care and types of facilities for persons with co-occurring substance abuse and mental disorders, individuals living with HIV/AIDS, and pregnant women. It includes information on services available with select providers, and whether methadone or buprenorphine therapy is offered. The updated directory complements SAMHSA’s internet-based Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator is at http://FindTreatment.samhsa.gov/. Free of cost hard copies (Inventory number SMA 08-4335) may be obtained from SAMHSA. http://www.samhsa.gov/.

SWEDEN: Regular drink can help fight rheumatoid arthritis

STOCKHOLM (Newsday, Long Island, NY), June 6, 2008: A regular tipple cuts the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis by up to half, Swedish research suggests. The Karolinska Institute assessed 2,750 men and women in two studies, the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, a specialist journal published by the British Medical Association, reports this week. Among the 2,750 people, 1,650 had rheumatoid arthritis. All the participants were asked about their lifestyles, including how much they smoked and drank. Their blood also was analyzed to gauge genetic risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis. The risk was up to 50 percent lower for those who drank the equivalent of five glasses of wine a week compared with those who drank the least, researchers found. However, the researchers concluded that giving up smoking remains the single most important preventive measure. Their finding underscored the importance of lifestyle factors in the development of rheumatoid arthritis, the study authors said. "Moderate alcohol consumption is not deleterious and may in some contexts be beneficial concerning risk for future onset of rheumatoid arthritis," said lead researcher Henrik Kallberg, of the Institute of Environmental Medicine at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. Moreover, in people with antibodies to a group of proteins involved in the development of rheumatoid arthritis, drinking alcohol also cut the risk of developing the disease. And in most smokers who had genetic risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis, drinking also reduced the risk of the disease. Smoking is a major risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis, and that risk is increased for those with a genetic susceptibility to disease, the researchers noted. Kallberg stressed the most important finding of the study was that smoking was a very significant risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis, reinforcing findings from previous studies. However, arthritis experts also warned that drinking too much alcohol increased the risk of a range of health problems. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease caused by a malfunctioning immune system. The body's immune system uses its own antibodies to attack joints, resulting in pain, swelling and loss of joint function. It affects between 0.5 and 1 percent of people, according to figures for the industrialized world. Professor Robert Moots, from the UK's Arthritis Research Campaign, told the British Broadcasting Corp. it was possible that drinking alcohol may have a protective effect against rheumatoid arthritis. But he said the study was not conclusive and any protective effect was not properly understood. "We must also remember that drinking alcohol in excess can be especially dangerous in patients taking some anti-rheumatoid drugs that may cause liver damage," he said. Copyright © 2008, Newsday Inc

U.K.: Red wine stops effects of high-fat diet

LONDON, England (Telegraph), June 4, 2008:

By Roger Highfield, Science Editor

Red wine does indeed explain why the French get away with a relatively clean bill of heart health despite eating a diet loaded with saturated fats, concludes a new study.

* 'Red wine' based drug may fight cancer
* Anti-ageing drug shows promise in first human test
* Could red wine help us keep fit and thin at 120?

People living in France have a much lower incidence of coronary heart disease than those in Britain, despite their similar intake of saturated fats - a phenomenon known as the "French paradox".

Many have speculated that answer to the paradox lies in their love of a glass or two of wine with a meal and have focused on a chemical found in red wine called resveratrol, also a natural constituent of grapes, pomegranates and other foods. Earlier studies have shown it can blunt the toxic effects of a diet very high in fat, which causes liver damage, but this is the first study to directly look at ageing.

Red wine contains resveratrol which can blunt the toxic effects of a high-fat diet

Today, in the journal PLoS ONE, researchers report that even low doses of resveratrol in the diet of middle-aged mice has a widespread influence on the genetic levers of ageing, and may confer special protection on the heart.

Specifically, the researchers found that low doses of resveratrol mimic the helpful effects of what is known as caloric restriction, diets with the full range of nutrients but up to 30 per cent fewer calories than a typical diet, which extend lifespan and slow the progression of age related diseases such as obesity, diabetes and cancer.

"This brings down the dose of resveratrol toward the consumption reality mode," says senior author Prof Richard Weindruch of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

But, importantly, resveratrol is just one of many "healthy chemicals", called polyphenols in wine. Now, he says, it is possible to see how a glass or two can have a health effect.

"Resveratrol mimics a significant fraction of the profile of caloric restriction at the gene expression level," according to Prof Tomas Prolla, coauthor

In the new study - which compared the gene use of animals on a restricted diet with those fed small doses of resveratrol - the similarities were remarkable, explains lead author Dr Jamie Barger of Madison-based LifeGen Technologies.

In the heart, for example, there are at least 1,029 genes whose functions change with age, and the organ's function is known to diminish with age.

In animals on a restricted diet, 90 per cent of those heart genes experienced altered gene expression profiles while low doses of resveratrol thwarted age-related change in 92 per cent. The new findings were associated with prevention of the decline in heart function associated with ageing.

In short, a glass of wine or food or supplements that contain even small doses of resveratrol are likely to represent "a robust intervention in the retardation of cardiac ageing," the authors note.

The new resveratrol study is also important because it confirms studies that show eating fewer calories, which has been shown in a wide range of species to extend lifespan, and resveratrol may govern the same master genetic pathways related to ageing.

© Copyright of Telegraph Media Group Limited 2008

INDIA: Heavy drinkers, smokers face Alzheimer's risk

NEW DELHI (The Times of India), May 11, 2008:

Manoj Jain, TNN

Occasionally forgetting where you left your car or scooter keys or being unable to recall the name of a distant acquaintance are normal memory lapses. However, frequent spells of forgetting names and places or repeating stories, phrases and questions in the same conversation along with confusion and irritability could be early signs of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease is a form of progressive dementia which destroys the cells in the brain, causing it to shrink. There are different stages of Alzheimer's which can take years or decades to progress. However, recent research has found that there are many lifestyle changes that can prevent, delay or alter the course of the disease.

At a meeting of American Academy of Neurology, Dr Rajan Duara from Mount Sinai Medical Center in Florida, presented a study where individuals over the age of 60 with a high-risk gene for Alzheimer's were studied. Those who were heavy drinkers (more than two drinks a day) developed Alzheimer's five years earlier than others. Also, those who were heavy smokers (more than 20 cigarettes per day) developed Alzheimer's two years earlier.

These findings led Dr Duara to say, ‘‘It's possible that if we can reduce or eliminate heavy smoking and drinking, we could substantially delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease for people and reduce the number of people who have Alzheimer's at any point in time.'' Such a delay is significant. Because even a five-year stalling of Alzheimer's would lead to nearly a 50% reduction in the total number of Alzheimer's cases.

In India, the burden of Alzheimer's is significantly less than that in the West. Among adults in their 70s, the rate of Alzheimer's is 4.4 times lower than that of the United States. Reasons for this lower rate are unclear. Some suspect it may be the under-recognition of the disease or a delay in seeking medical care. However, others contend it may be the spices in the Indian diet which may be protective.

Studies have found that curcumin, an ingredient found in turmeric (haldi), reduces the tangling of brain cells and breaks up existing plaques in experimental models of mice. It is thought that this protective effect of turmeric may be partially responsible for a lower Alzheimer's rate in India.

Whatever the reason, it is important to realise that simple lifestyle changes such as a good diet, physical and mental exercises along with reduced alcohol intake and cessation of smoking can alter our risk of an incurable and devastating disease of the mind.

Dr Manoj Jain is an infectious disease physician working in Memphis (US) and Indore (MP)

Copyright © 2008 Times Internet Limited.

INDIA: Juice may reduce Alzheimer's risk

NEW DELHI (The Times of India), May 5, 2008

Juices are brain-friendly (TOI Photo)

When it comes to preventing Alzheimer’s, juice may have the edge. In a recent study, three servings a week reduced Alzheimer’s risk impressively.

Drink up
Polyphenols in juice may be one of the best things that’s ever happened to your brain. The ones in apple and citrus juices, in particular, are very brain friendly. That’s because they’re able to cross the blood-brain barrier.

Once inside your head, they can protect neurons from a damaging chemical associated with Alzheimer’s. Some of those polyphenols, like quercetin, also squelch inflammation.

Juice it up
Want a super nutritious glass of apple juice? Toss a red delicious apple into your juicer, peel and all.

Tea is still great
Of course, this juicy news about protection against Alzheimer’s doesn’t mean it’s time to toss your tea. Tea still has lots of other healthy benefits, like these:

• Tea is great for your heart. The brew helps keep your ticker strong.
• Tea may help thwart the deadly ovarian cancer.
• Tea turns down your stress response.
• Tea may help keep your knees feeling fine.

Copyright © 2008 Times Internet Limited.

U.K.: 'I'll have a shot, a shandy and a shave please'

Middleton, Manchester Pub barber William Turner gives regular Peter Powell a trim

Licensee opens barber shop in his pub

By Claire Dodd

LONDON, England (The Publican), April 30, 2008:

An entrepreneurial licensee has come up with a novel way to stay a cut above his competitors.

Chris Cummins of the Assheton Arms in Middleton, Manchester, has opened a barbers shop in his pub. He spent £5,000 transforming a corner of the JW Lees pub that used to be a stable, so that customers could enjoy a pint while getting their hair cut.

"The pub industry is really tough at the minute, with the smoking ban and the Chancellor adding more tax onto drinks,” said Chris. “We’re being forced to diversify.

"People can come in and have a pint, pie and a Perry Como," he added, "I haven’t heard anyone else doing this and I think we may be the first pub in England to offer it."

The barbers shop can be accessed from the street or through the pub. Customers pick up a ticket at the bar and wait in the pub to be called.

Chris has employed a full time barber for the new shop, which the regulars have named Half Cut.

Copyright The Publican Publishing Ltd.

U.K.: Getting paid to drink

A pint is pulled at a pub in central London. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

LONDON (Reuters), April 24, 2008:

Found: drinking companions to join elderly gentleman for a friendly beer at his local pub.

Mike Hammond was bombarded with offers after advertising in his village post office for someone to accompany his 88-year-old father Jack on visits to a southern England pub from a nursing home.

He offered the lucky winner 7 pounds ($14) an hour plus expenses and, after sifting through the applicants, decided on a job-share. Drinking duties are to be divided between a retired doctor and a former military man.

"Dad's now going to be going down to the pub several times a week -- three with his new friends and twice with me," Mike Hammond told The Times on Thursday. "I want to give him some of his old life back."

By Paul Majendie
Editing by Paul Casciato
© Thomson Reuters 2008

U.K.: Doctors attack 'supersize' drinks

Increasingly large pub measures are pushing customers towards unsafe levels of drinking, the Royal College of Physicians has warned.
____________________________________________________

LONDON, England (BBC News - Health), April 12, 2008:

RCP president Ian Gilmore accused the pub industry of acting irresponsibly and urged it to put its house in order.

The 125ml wine glass used to be the standard size but many pubs and bars are now using 175ml and 250ml measures.

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers hit back that it was in the business of offering customers choice.

Maximise profits

Just 16% of pubs surveyed by industry magazine The Publican magazine said the 125ml glass was their normal size.

The 175ml glass was found to be the standard in three quarters of pubs, with 14% saying they use the 250ml glass - equivalent to a third of a bottle - as a standard measure.

Meanwhile, many premises are said to have increased spirit measures from 25 to 35ml and offer doubles as standard.

BBC correspondent Keith Doyle said there was even anecdotal evidence that some pub staff were under pressure to maximise profits by encouraging customers to opt for larger drinks.

Industry magazine The Publican recently advised landlords to "train and incentivise staff to upsell products such as larger measures of wine and spirits".

Jeremy Beadles, Chief Executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, said: "Our view is that customers should be offered a choice of different wine glass sizes when they are drinking in a pub or restaurant."

The industry also insists it merely offers what customers want and that larger sizes are better value for money.

Mark Hastings, of the British Beer and Pub Association, said the larger glasses were a result of consumer outcry during the 1980s.

"People felt short-changed in pubs because we were selling 125ml glasses," he told the BBC.

"So the pub sector moved to serving us in exactly the same way as people drink in their own homes. In other words it's what people want to buy."

If people were asking for smaller measures, he continued, "you can guarantee pubs will start producing them, because they want customers to be happy".

Safe limits

However, as fears about a binge drinking epidemic mount, the trend has triggered a backlash from senior doctors and politicians.

Professor Gilmore warned: "There is no doubt at all that many people are drinking significantly more than they realise.

"People are aware of units, they want to stay within safe limits, but they are being pushed up way over those limits by just not realising what they are drinking.

"I think the industry is being irresponsible and needs to put its house in order."

Greg Mulholland, a Liberal Democrat health spokesman, has introduced a bill in the House of Commons to amend weights and measures legislation to force all bars, pubs, clubs and licensed restaurants offer the 125ml measure.

"Quite simply it's profiteering," he said.

"It's getting people to trade up, calling a 175ml measure - which is really a large - a standard glass, and calling a 250ml a large - when in fact it is a third of a bottle of wine, nearly half a pint.

"All I'm saying really is people should have a choice. If they want a smaller measure they should get it."

BBC © MMVIII

WORLD: One Billion People Lack Drinking Water

NEW YORK (Time), March 21, 2008: In the extraordinary new book Blue Planet Run, hundreds of photographers from all over the world track mankind's vital race to provide safe drinking water to the one billion people who lack it Click World Water Crisis to see a photo feature published by TIME. Also Get A Free Download of the Complete BLUE PLANET RUN Book Copyright © 2008 Time Inc.

U.K.: Drunken 'Saga louts' causing trouble abroad

A new breed of older Britons is drinking too much on holiday and causing the sort of trouble normally associated with the younger generation, the Foreign Office warns.

More than one in 10 older travellers do not follow the same safety advice they would give to their children

LONDON, England (Telegraph), March 20, 2008:

An increasing number of 50-somethings - known as "Saga louts" - are over-indulging in alcohol and food and becoming abusive to locals, an analysis of surveys shows.

Older generations could be risking their health by drinking too much and engaging in dangerous sports abroad such as bungee jumping.

The research, in which more than 1,000 were polled for the Know Before You Go campaign on behalf of the Foreign Office, shows that one in five Britons over 55 are taking risks abroad that they would never contemplate at home, such as water skiing or riding a moped.

As a result nearly one in five couples said that they or their partner had been injured.

But despite needing to make three times as many claims on their travel insurance as younger tourists, 65 per cent of older travellers admitted that they did not take out insurance on their last trip abroad.

More than one in 10 older travellers do not follow the same safety advice they would give to their children. More than half also drink more alcohol than usual.

This, according to British embassies in popular resorts, can lead to problems.

Rania Kossiori, the British vice-consul on the Greek island of Rhodes, said: "Most problems that we see with the older generation of Brits arise from over-consumption of alcohol and food. Drinking and staying too long in the sun can make you ill and undertaking strenuous activity like going swimming or snorkelling after a large meal can put you in unnecessary danger - people have drowned this way.

"After one too many drinks people can become abusive, for example shouting at resort staff," she said. "We've also had instances where a few too many drinks has led older guests to over-estimate their strength, for example going swimming in bad weather conditions, which has ended in tragedy."

Meg Munn, a Foreign Office minister, said: "The Foreign Office is all for over-55s having fun on holiday, but it is crucial that they make some simple preparations to help avoid encountering difficulties whilst abroad. Acquiring adequate travel insurance is a must and health scares abroad can be avoided by visiting a GP and having a health check before embarking on a holiday."

Steve Ashton, of Saga Insurance, said: "It's a misnomer that only the young can have new experiences on holiday or take part in exciting and often rigorous activities. Just because you're over 50 does not mean you have to put your surf-board into storage or hang up your salopettes. In fact, the experience of Saga Travel Insurance shows that in many ways older travellers are much more conscientious about ensuring the activities they take part in are within their capability."

The term "Saga lout" was coined by Dr Peter Rice, a psychiatrist, to describe heavy-drinking pensioners.

He said that the typical "Saga lout" acquired a taste for drinking at home as alcohol prices dropped in the 1970s and 1980s.

© Copyright of Telegraph Media Group Limited 2008

USA: Looking for a good excuse to tip back a beer? Healthy Reasons To Drink Beer

EXECUTIVE HEALTH
NEW YORK (Forbes.com), March 17, 2008:

You don't have to wait for St. Patrick's Day. That's because a decade's worth of health research shows that regular, moderate beer intake--one to two 12 ounce glasses per day for men and one for women--can be good for you, especially if you're facing some of the most common diseases related to aging.

Experts say wine tends to get most of the attention when it comes to the health benefits of alcohol primarily because of the French paradox, a reference to the relatively low rate of heart disease in France in spite of a diet high in saturated fat. The idea is that daily sips of Merlot make the difference.

In Depth: Eight Healthy Reasons To Drink Beer

But a number of studies are showing that moderate consumption of alcohol, including beer, can have similar heart healthy effects, including making men 30 to 35% less likely to have a heart attack than those who abstain.

"Wine is still on moral high ground," says Charlie Bamforth, chair and professor of the department of food science and technology at the University of California, Davis, "but beer deserves just the same acclamation."

Interest in the health effects of beer has been growing over the past eight to 10 years in tandem with a rise in the popularity of craft beers--usually defined as products of brewers who make fewer than 2 million barrels a year, says Nancy Tringali Piho, a spokeswoman for the National Beer Wholesalers Association.

Unlike many mass-produced beers, craft beers tend to be brewed with a particular focus on flavor, appearance and aroma. Their appeal has attracted an upscale audience that's curious about the beverage and how it compares with wine health-wise.

The news is good, particularly for baby boomers, many of whom are dealing with obesity and high blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.

Alcohol, including beer, in moderation raises high-density lipoprotein or HDL, known as good cholesterol, says Dr. R. Curtis Ellison, chief of the section of preventive medicine and epidemiology and professor of medicine and public health at the Boston University School of Medicine. It also appears to have a favorable effect on the lining of blood vessels, making them less likely to form a clot or for a clot to rupture and plug an artery, and may help protect against Type 2 diabetes.

"People should realize that a little bit of alcohol on a regular basis decreases the risks of aging," says Ellison, who specializes in researching, among other things, the relationship between moderate alcohol consumption and chronic diseases.

And earlier this month researchers at the National Institutes of Health released a study showing that frequent drinking in moderation may protect men from death due to cardiovascular disease. Men who reported drinking 120 to 365 days a year had a 20% lower cardiovascular death rate than those who drank one to 36 days a year. Overdoing it, however, can have the opposite effect. Men who knocked back five or more drinks when they did indulge had a 30% greater risk for death via heart disease.

Beer may also give your brain a boost.

Adults over age 65 who drank one to six alcoholic beverages over the course of the week turned out to have a lower risk of dementia than non-drinkers or heavier drinkers, according to a 2003 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Likewise, a 2006 report that appeared in an American Heart Association journal showed that a drink or two a day might be linked to better cognitive function in women.

Consume With Caution
Of course, beer isn't good for everyone. Other studies have shown that consuming two or more glasses of alcohol a day may increase a woman's risk of breast cancer, and few medical experts will suggest that a non-drinker take up the habit just for the health benefits, when exercise and a good diet can produce similar benefits.

And Bamforth says he's not so sure that the growing selection of organic beers, those that don't contain sulfites, chemical preservatives and are made with mostly, if not all, organic ingredients, or beers flavored with antioxidant-laden super-fruits will have much of a health impact. It's the alcohol content, as well as vitamins and minerals, in beer that has proved to make a difference.

More important, he doesn't recommend that people think of beer as medicine. Beer is something to enjoy, he says. Just don't feel guilty about indulging.

"In moderation," Bamforth says, "it's part of a wholesome diet."

By Allison Van Dusen, staff writer at Forbes.com
© 2008 Forbes.com LLC™