NIH Radio
NIHSeniorHealth Site Offers Information about Older Adults and Alcohol Use
Brief Description:
Alcohol can be a problem for older adults, especially if they take certain medications, have health problems or don’t control their drinking. Alcohol Use and Older Adults, http://nihseniorhealth.gov/alcoholuse/toc.html, the newest topic on NIHSeniorHealth, provides helpful information about the effect alcohol may have on our bodies, health and lifestyles as we age.
Transcript:
Akinso: Having a drink now and then as you get older is not known to be harmful, but alcohol can be a problem for older adults, especially if they take certain meds, have health problems or don't control their drinking.
Willenbring: I think the point is not that drinking alcohol is a good or bad thing per say. The question is for a given individual is drinking better for you or worse for you.
Akinso: Dr. Mark Willenbring is an Advisor to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse, and Alcoholism's Director for Clinical Research.
Willenbring: Does it make sense to take the risk associated with drinking are there potential health benefits associated with drinking?
Akinso: These and many other issues related to the elderly and alcohol consumption are addressed in Alcohol Use and Older Adults a new topic on the NIHSeniorHealth website.
Willenbring: The website has essential information for older adults about alcohol and aging. The website is for people who are not dependent but who have some concern about drinking and when it might be safe to drink and when it might not be safe to drink. So this is just kind of a beginning to give people some essential information to help them consider their own drinking habits.
Akinso: The NIH Senior Health website was jointly developed by the National Institute on Aging and the National Library of Medicine for older adults and their families. If you would like to read up on this topic, visit www.NIHSeniorHealth.gov. This is Wally Akinso at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
About This Audio Report
Date: 9/08/2010
Reporter: Wally Akinso
Sound Bite: Dr. Mark Willenbring
Topic: older adults, alcohol
Additional Info: NIHSeniorHealth site offers information about older adults and alcohol use
Social Media Links