Posted on 07/29/2022 12:46:52 PM PDT by Red Badger
A comprehensive new Oxford study has added to the growing body of research highlighting the health effects of alcohol. The large-scale genetic analysis suggests that alcohol consumption directly accelerates aging, by shortening telomeres.
Alcohol is among the most widely used recreational drugs, so it’s extremely important to examine its health impacts. Unfortunately, various studies have revealed that alcohol permanently damages DNA, directly causes cancer, contributes to cognitive decline and early-onset dementia, and can shrink the brain to the equivalent of 10 years of aging. And now a new study has found more evidence that alcohol consumption can accelerate biological aging.
Telomeres are repetitive sequences of DNA that form protective caps on the tips of chromosomes. Every time a cell divides, a section of these “junk” sequences is lost, and eventually telomeres wear away enough that useful DNA starts to be affected. This causes the cell to stop dividing, and contributes to many of the biological signs of aging. As such, telomere length is often used as a biomarker for aging.
In the new study, researchers from Oxford Population Health examined the association between alcohol intake and telomere length, using data from over 245,000 people taking part in the UK Biobank project. To investigate any potential causation, the team used a genetic technique known as Mendelian Randomization (MR), which looks at variations in certain genes – in this case, some that had previously been linked to alcohol consumption and alcohol use disorders.
In the MR analysis, the team found a clear link between high alcohol intake and shorter telomeres – drinking 32 units of alcohol (about 11 glasses of wine) per week showed telomere shortening equivalent to around three years of aging, compared to those who drank 10 units.
(Excerpt) Read more at newatlas.com ...
So that’s how all those Democrats get so old.
Everything in moderation.
Especially moderation............................
We should encourage them to drink more..........................
Winston Churchill lived to be 90.
Don’t need a study to know this. Time shows it.
So Keith Richards is really only 56 years old.
I’m down to a quart a day and I feel 10 years younger!
The article seems to only suggest an effect for those drinking 6 or more glasses of wine per week.
So I guess a bottle and a half per week is ok
Huge genetic study suggests alcohol accelerates biological aging
What is non-biological aging?
Explains why you don’t see many old LSU fans. LOL
But then there us at 72 who drink every day and exercise and take Milk Thistle and other supplements and wake up every morning with, well, you know what. It’s all a matter of balance.
You can usually see the effects on people that smoke heavily or consume alcohol heavily. There are exceptions of course.
I raise my pint of rum to you!
Sun UV exposure, chemical burns, etc......................
My father-in-law lived to 85 and smoked like a locomotive.................
yeah but the meth and cocaine reverse the effects
I’m just glad to wake up...........................
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