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About 1 in 10 adults over the age of 65 fits the definition of a binge drinker, according to a study by researchers at ٺƵ Health. Binge drinking was defined as consuming more than five drinks in one sitting for men, and more than four for women. Much attention is placed on the drinking habits of teenagers and young adults, says the study’s lead author, , assistant professor in the Departments of and at ٺƵ. Less attention is paid to older adults.
“Binge drinking, even episodically or infrequently, may negatively affect other health conditions by exacerbating disease, interacting with prescribed medications, and complicating disease management,” Dr. Han tells The New York Times.
Alcohol increases the risk of injury, which can be particularly difficult to recover from for older adults. Dr. Han believes clinicians should educate their patients about how their bodies become more sensitive to alcohol as they age. Researcher , notes that while the study did not examine causes for binge drinking, the cohort sampled were baby boomers, whose generation was more likely to experiment with drugs and alcohol.
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