Popular Conclusions:
Summary
...oxidative modification of proteins "marks" them for degradation by most common proteases and especially by the cytosolic multicatalytic proteinase from mammalian cells;...protein oxidation contributes substantially to the intracellular pool of catalytically inactive and less active, thermolabile forms of enzymes which accumulate in cells during aging, oxidative stress, and in various pathological states, including premature aging diseases (progeria, Werner's syndrome), muscular dystrophy, rheumatoid arthritis, cataractogenesis, chronic alcohol toxicity. Abstract from Alcohol Clin Exp Res 1986
Alcohol consumption was negatively correlated with blood pressure in white males and positively correlated with alpha-lipoprotein cholesterol in black males. Since such lifestyle factors are related to physiologic risk factors that result in heart disease and adult cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the older ages, early targeting during adolescence and young adulthood is important... Abstract from J Chronic Dis 1986
Neuroradiological studies have consistently demonstrated that alcoholics have morphological abnormalities of cortical, ventricular, and cerebellar structures suggesting brain atrophy. This atrophy is weakly correlated with impaired psychological test performance. Abstract from Alcohol Clin Exp Res 1982
Ethanol disrupts the physical structure of cell membranes. The most fluid membranes, including those that are low in cholesterol, are the most easily disordered by ethanol. Although the membrane-disordering effect is small, there is pharmacological, temporal, and genetic evidence that it is important. An exception is the increased behavioral sensitivity in aging animals, which is not matched by changes in their membranes. When animals are treated chronically with ethanol, their membranes become stiffer, a response that can be regarded as adaptive. Ethanol may favor the uptake of cholesterol or saturated fatty acids into membranes, thus reducing its own effect... Abstract from Ann Emerg Med 1986
The chromosomes of alcoholics show a significant elevation of aberrations. Alcohol inhibits cellular and cell free RNA synthesis. One possible reason for the mutagenic activity of alcohol in vivo may be an inhibition of cellular repair. Abstract from Adv Exp Med Biol 1977
Ethanol alters equilibrium between neurotransmitter availability, receptor systems and biological responsiveness. This action may contribute to the accelerating effects of ethanol on the aging process. On this line, the interaction between age and ethanol consumption was studied at laboratory and clinical levels.
Aging and alcohol problems
After heart disease and cancer, alcoholism is America's third largest health problem; it affects 10 million people, costs $ 60 billion, and is implicated in 200 000 deaths annually. Alcohol is involved in 50% of deaths by motor vehicle and fire, 67% of murders, and 33% of suicides. It contributes to morbidity in certain malignancies and to many diseases of the endocrine, cardiovascular, hematopoietic, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems. The fetal alcohol syndrome occurs in a third of the infants born to women who drink more than 150 g of ethanol daily during pregnancy; another third of the infants become mentally retarded. The production of toxic oxidants such as H2O2; OH. and O2.- which follows aerobic metabolism is highly enhanced in aging and alcohol consumption. Alcohol and aging are additive in their harmful effects.The aging brain is another sensitive target for the influence of alcohol, and alcoholism has the potential to significantly aggravate cognitive deterioration. Recognizing alcohol-induced brain injury, which can resemble Alzheimer's disease, is particularly important in the management of older patients. Ethanol disrupts the physical structure of cell membranes. The most fluid membranes, including those that are low in cholesterol, are the most easily disordered by ethanol.When animals are treated chronically with ethanol, their membranes become stiffer, a response that can be regarded as adaptive. Ethanol may favor the uptake of cholesterol or saturated fatty acids into membranes thus reducing its own effect. Alcohol may be related to diminution of function in tissues and organ systems as well as individuals. Aging cells, systems, and people may respond differently to alcohol.Ethanol metabolism is affected by the aging process and is decreased with advancing age.The incidence of alcoholism in older persons is increasing, and diagnosis can be difficult. Because of age-related physiologic changes, the effects of alcohol are more pronounced in older persons. Furthermore, alcoholism may mimic the effects of aging and many conditions prevalent in this age-group. Four factors that promote alcohol abuse are:
1)retirement, with its attendant boredom, change of role status, and loss of income;
2) deaths occurring among relatives and friends and the awareness that more deaths are coming;
3) poor health and discomfort; and
4)loneliness, a particular problem among elderly women.
The results indicated a definite general decline in neuropsychological functioning with aging and suggested a similar trend with alcoholism. The tendency seen with alcoholism was least apparent with regard to fundamental sensory-motor functions and the perceptual functions of vision and audition and most apparent with regard to short term memory and abstract reasoning, i.e., higher mental processes.
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