Alcohol can increase inflammation in the elderly says study
Researchers at the University of Colorado, Denver, US, have shown that alcohol has a greater immunosuppressive effect in the elderly that comprises their ability to battle infection.
They are raising red flags about alcohol consumption in older people because of concerns about a phenomenon known as “inflamm-ageing”.
“Our laboratory has been studying inflammatory and immune responses in the aged for well over a decade,” says study researcher, Dr Brenda J. Curtis, research assistant professor at the University of Colorado Denver.
“We know that even healthy elderly individuals have an elevated basal inflammatory state, known as ‘inflamm-aging.’ Advanced age alone is a risk factor for a poor prognosis after injury or infection. Adding alcohol to the fragile immune milieu of the aged reduces their ability to fight infections,” she adds.
The researchers go on to say that the negative effects of alcohol consumption may be especially severe if older people are also taking medications for conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. Like alcohol, making of these medications are metabolised in the liver.
The findings of the study were presented at the 39th Annual Research Society on Alcoholism Scientific Meeting in New Orleans.
The researchers work, as well as that of others, suggests that excessive alcohol consumption may increase inflammation levels in the body by changing the microbiome. Alcohol may contribute to leaking of bacterial content into underlying tissue, causing inflammation say the researchers.
The researchers examined the impact of ageing and alcohol on the immune system and inflammation. Specifically, they looked at whether alcohol intoxication alters the innate immune response to infection in aged mice.
They administered ethanol in young and aged mice, after which they induced an infection in the trachea. Older mice who received ethanol prior to lung infection had worse pulmonary pathology, including increased cellularity and alveolar wall thickening, relative to their young counterparts. In addition, inflammatory foci in the lungs were larger.
Other studies demonstrate that ethanol intoxication in aged mice diminishes the pulmonary response to infection, perhaps through modification of macrophage activation and signaling.
Similarly, the effects of alcohol in the elderly are more potent than they are in younger individuals, in part because of the proinflammatory state of the elderly, say the researchers. Older individuals also have decreased lung function and cough strength, which further escalates the risk of developing pneumonia.
For more in-depth features, interviews and information, subscribe to Arthritis Digest magazine, a popular title that’s published six times a year. Click here for the digital version or tel 0845 643 8470 to order your had copy. You’ll know what your doctor is talking about, what new drugs are in the pipeline and be up to date on helpful products.
