As Christmas is now well and truly behind us, many will be embarking on Dry January after excessive drinking over the last few weeks.
While a lot of us will choose to avoid the booze over the next month, a doctor has revealed the exact age you should consider ‘permanently’ cutting alcohol out for an important reason.
According to US guidelines for drinking, adults of legal drinking age should consume alcohol in moderation.
An alcohol-free lifestyle has become more popular among Millennials and Gen Z, while celebrities such as Tom Holland have spoken out after dropping the drink.
There are, of course, many lifestyle improvements that can be made by quitting alcohol, including reducing the risks of some serious diseases.
As per The Guardian, up to 40 percent of Alzheimer’s cases could be prevented or delayed by removing heavy drinking from your diet.
Dr Richard Restak, 83, has written more than 20 books on the human brain and in The Complete Guide to Memory: The Science of Strengthening Your Mind, he revealed what age you should quit alcohol.
Essentially, Dr Restak advises his patients to turn down the bottle at age 70 at the latest, as over 65s typically have fewer brain neurons.
“Alcohol is a very, very weak neurotoxin – it’s not good for nerve cells,” he wrote.
Writing in his book How To Prevent Dementia, Dr Restak spoke further surrounding the link between alcohol and developing Alzheimer’s.
“Ask yourself, ‘Why do I drink?’ If the answer is ‘Because alcohol helps me to elevate my mood and lower my anxiety,’ you may be at some peril, and it’s probably best to stop altogether,” he penned.
The expert went on to state how everyone should at least give some consideration to ‘permanently eliminating’ alcohol from their life come the age of 65.
“Alcohol should also be seen in the context of frequent falls among the elderly,” he added. “The death rates from falls is increasing, especially among elderly men.”
Dr Restak opened up about his own situation in an interview with iNews last year.
“I don’t drink at all. I think you have to stop around 65,” he said. “At that age, your brain has probably had as much alcohol as your system needs.”
If you’ve been affected by addiction and want to speak to someone in confidence you can call American Addiction Centers on (888) 830-7624 24 hours, seven days a week, or contact them through their website.
