Why Is My Alcohol Tolerance Declining With Age?
The New York Times • • business
Key Points:
- As people age, their bodies metabolize alcohol more slowly, leading to higher blood alcohol levels, increased impairment, and more severe hangovers.
- Muscle loss and increased body fat with age reduce the body's water content, which normally dilutes alcohol, causing alcohol to have a stronger effect.
- Starting around age 30, individuals can lose up to 8% of muscle mass per decade, contributing to these changes in alcohol tolerance.
- Aging organs and other physiological changes also play a role in how alcohol affects older adults differently than when they were younger.
