Even light drinking is linked to worse hand dexterity and balance as we age
Even drinking within recommended guidelines might impact your physical coordination over time. Researchers found that a lifetime of low-level alcohol consumption is linked to subtle declines in balance and hand dexterity as healthy adults age.
A recent study indicates that even moderate alcohol consumption throughout a person's life may negatively impact hand dexterity and balance in healthy adults as they age. Conducted by researchers from Stanford University, the study published in Alcohol and Alcoholism found that the intersection of aging and increased lifetime alcohol intake may lead to reduced motor coordination and stability.
Healthy adults aged 21 to 69, without psychiatric, neurological, or major medical conditions and a history of low-level drinking, participated in the research. These individuals reported consuming a limited number of drinks per month and had no binge drinking in the year preceding the study.
To evaluate manual dexterity and balance, the researchers utilized two standardized tests. The Lafayette Grooved Pegboard Test gauged manual dexterity, complex motor coordination, and motor speed by timing participants as they inserted 25 pegs into random slots, both with their dominant and non-dominant hands. The Sharpened Romberg Test measured static postural stability by having participants maintain a heel-to-toe position for 60 seconds while standing with their eyes open and then with their eyes closed.
The results revealed that recent drinking habits did not predict physical performance. Instead, the researchers discovered that the product of a person's age and their total lifetime alcohol consumption was a reliable predictor of their manual dexterity. A higher combined age and lifetime alcohol intake resulted in slower completion times for the dominant hand and reduced overall scores when both hands were combined.
As for balance, despite all participants successfully maintaining their balance for the full 60 seconds with their eyes open, those with higher lifetime average drinks per month struggled more during the eyes-closed condition. For each standard deviation increase in lifetime average drinks per month, participants had a 2.3 times lower likelihood of maintaining perfect balance for the full 60 seconds.
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