With the festivities of Christmas behind us, many people are starting Dry January to recover from the heavy drinking of recent weeks.
While abstaining from alcohol over the next month, a doctor has identified the specific age at which you should contemplate giving up alcohol entirely for a critical reason.
The US guidelines recommend that adults of legal drinking age consume alcohol in moderation.
Living without alcohol has become increasingly popular among Millennials and Gen Z. Celebrities like Tom Holland have also publicly discussed their decision to quit drinking.
Quitting alcohol can lead to numerous lifestyle benefits, including lowering the risk of several serious health conditions.
According to The Guardian, eliminating heavy drinking from one’s diet could prevent or delay up to 40 percent of Alzheimer’s cases.
Dr. Richard Restak, who is 83 years old and has authored over 20 books on the human brain, discusses in The Complete Guide to Memory: The Science of Strengthening Your Mind the age by which he believes one should stop drinking alcohol.
Dr. Restak suggests that his patients cease alcohol consumption by age 70 at the latest, as individuals over 65 generally have fewer brain neurons.
“Alcohol is a very, very weak neurotoxin – it’s not good for nerve cells,” he noted.
In his book How To Prevent Dementia, Dr. Restak further explores the connection between alcohol and the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
“Ask yourself, ‘Why do I drink?’ If the answer is ‘Because alcohol helps me to elevate my mood and lower my anxiety,’ you may be at some peril, and it’s probably best to stop altogether,” he advised.
He suggests that everyone should at least consider ‘permanently eliminating’ alcohol from their lives by age 65.
“Alcohol should also be seen in the context of frequent falls among the elderly,” he explained. “The death rates from falls is increasing, especially among elderly men.”
Dr. Restak shared his personal experiences in an interview with iNews last year.
“I don’t drink at all. I think you have to stop around 65,” he stated. “At that age, your brain has probably had as much alcohol as your system needs.”
If you are struggling with addiction and wish to speak to someone confidentially, you can contact American Addiction Centers at (888) 830-7624, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or visit their website for more information.