USA TODAY: Moderate drinking and binge drinking among older people increase the risk for cognitive decline and memory loss, according to two studies presented today at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2012 in Vancouver, Canada…
Binge drinking appears to be a big problem in the USA. The findings follow a study in January by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting that one in six adults in the USA are binge drinkers and those in the 65-plus age group binge-drink more often than any other age group. In that survey, binge drinking is defined as men having five or more drinks within a short period of time and women having four or more drinks…
“Alcohol use in late life many not be beneficial in older women,” says lead author Tina Hoang of The Veterans Health Research Institute in San Francisco. “It may be that the brains of older individuals are more vulnerable to the effects of alcohol.”… (more)
EDITOR: While this is a matter for concern, it is the rampant binge drinking taking place on college and university campuses these days which is especially alarming. If it isn’t diminishing mental capacity… and well it might … it leads to auto accidents and unplanned pregnancies.
Without detracting from the seriousness of the Penn State scandal, binge drinking on campuses is a far greater problem than the relatively rare cases of sexual abuse of youngsters. Yet is receive very little attention and discussion.
