New research has emerged suggesting older adults may be more affected by alcohol than younger people as well as being less likely to realize they may be drunk.
Dr. Sara Jo Nixon and her colleagues found there is a disassociation between people's perceptions of their abilities after a few drinks and their actual capabilities.
This is particular true of older adults, according to the researchers.
A total of 42 adults between the ages of 50 and 74 were examined with 26 adults between the ages of 25 and 35. Participants were randomly assigned to drink either a moderate amount of alcohol or a nonalcoholic placebo beverage. Everyone in the alcohol group was given enough to achieve the same blood alcohol level.
Researchers than administered a Trail Making Test, requiring people to connect numbered and lettered dots in order. The older adults in the alcohol group performed more poorly on the test when compared to their younger counterparts, yet told the researchers they thought they were less impaired.
Nixon suggests older adults may want to exercise caution when drinking socially.
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