It is widely known that excessive alcohol consumption is detrimental to health, a fact that has been established by scientific research over many years.
Despite this, there is still much to learn about the effects of alcohol on the body and whether consuming small amounts of certain types of alcohol may have potential benefits.
New research is shedding light on how alcohol impacts the body and accelerates the aging process, particularly at a cellular level that determines biological age.
Unlike chronological age, which simply counts the number of years someone has lived, biological age assesses cellular function and disease risk. Two key indicators of biological age, telomere length, and epigenetic age, provide evidence of the harmful effects of alcohol consumption on the body.
Drinking alcohol increases the risk of DNA damage
Telomeres are essential components of our genetic structure, protecting chromosomes from damage during cell replication. Over time, telomeres naturally shorten as cells divide. Shortened telomeres are associated with age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, and heart disease.
Research conducted by Anya Topiwala and her team at Oxford University in 2022 found that excessive alcohol consumption leads to a reduction in telomere length, accelerating the biological aging process.
Observational studies have shown that consuming 29 or more units of alcohol per week can result in a 1-2 year change in telomere length compared to drinking less than six units per week. Individuals with alcohol use disorders were found to have even shorter telomeres.
The exact mechanism by which alcohol shortens telomeres is not fully understood, but it is believed to be related to oxidative stress caused by alcohol consumption.
Certain types of alcohol are bad for you
Epigenetic age, which assesses DNA methylation linked to aging using multiple biomarkers, indicates the impact of lifestyle choices on biological age. Studies have shown that cumulative alcohol exposure increases biological age, with liquor drinkers being at a higher risk of premature aging compared to beer or wine drinkers.
Further research is being conducted to better understand the connection between alcohol consumption and biological aging, as the specific reasons behind these effects are not fully clear.
Can biological age be reversed?
While biological aging is theoretically reversible, the practical methods to achieve this reversal are not yet established. Scientists believe that by addressing environmental factors and lifestyle choices that impact DNA function, it may be possible to slow down the aging process.
Quitting or reducing alcohol consumption has been shown to slow down biological aging. Both studies emphasize that moderate drinking does not have any protective effects and that increased alcohol consumption accelerates the aging process.
About our experts
Anya Topiwala: A psychiatrist at Oxford University, Topiwala’s research focuses on the impact of alcohol consumption on brain health using large datasets and advanced imaging techniques.
Hou Li-Fan: A Professor of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University, Dr. Hou’s research integrates epidemiological methods with molecular technologies to identify molecular markers and understand their role in disease prevention.
Source: www.sciencefocus.com
