Enjoying a glass of wine with dinner, a beer at the sports show, an extensive breakfast with sparkling wine or a summer evening with a mojito in the beach bar - for some people alcohol is simply a part of life. It is well known that high-proof drinks also have their downsides. For example, people who drink alone from a young age are more likely to become alcoholics in their 30s. And even moderate amounts of alcohol can shrink the brain, according to a study. Not only can alcohol lead to health problems or be addictive, drinking a lot of alcohol seems to accelerate the aging process.
Researchers at Oxford University looked at DNA sequences to see if drinking alcohol could actually cause people to age faster. It was previously unclear whether alcohol alone can accelerate the aging process or whether other factors such as socioeconomic status also play a role.
So-called telomeres are responsible for the fact that we age. They are repeated sequences of DNA that cap the ends of chromosomes to protect them. The younger a person is, the longer their telomeres are. Each time a cell replicates, the telomeres decrease in length. At some point, the telomeres are so short that cells can no longer divide and die. Biological age can be determined by the length of the telomeres. In previous studies, researchers have linked telomere length to several age-related diseases, including Alzheimer's, cancer and coronary artery disease.
The scientists used a genetic approach called Mendelian randomization for their analysis. For the study, the researchers used data from the UK biodatabase. They also asked the 245,000 participants about their drinking habits.
The result: alcohol seems to accelerate the aging process: someone who drinks about ten large glasses of wine (250 ml) per week is biologically one to two years older than a person who only drinks about two large glasses of wine a week. Alcoholics are three to six years older. However, based on their study results, the researchers assume that a minimum amount of alcohol is necessary to accelerate the aging process. This would require drinking about six large glasses of wine a week, according to the study statement.
Director of Studies Dr. Anya Topiwala of Oxford Population Health said: "These results support the notion that alcohol, especially in excessive amounts, directly affects telomere length. Shortened telomeres are considered a risk factor for a number of serious age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's." One of the researchers' possible explanations for the effect of alcohol on telomere length is that alcohol increases oxidative stress and inflammation in the body. This effect also occurs when alcohol is broken down. The researchers suspect that this can damage the DNA.
dr Richard Piper, Chief Executive of Alcohol Change UK, said: "The study shows clear links between alcohol consumption and aging and points to a possible link between alcohol and Alzheimer's. In general, there is a growing body of scientific knowledge on exactly how alcohol affects so many diseases and caused so many early deaths."
Sources: Oxford University study, study communication
