Robert Philibert
New research from the University of Iowa shows having one or two alcoholic drinks per day might slow down the aging process. Dr. Robert Philibert, a U-I psychiatry professor, told KCRG-TV he and other researchers analyzed DNA and found those who drink in moderation appear to age at a healthier or even slower rate.
“There was that classic U-shaped curve, with the people at the middle of that curve of alcohol consumption appearing to the objective clock of being the youngest,” Philibert said.
The make-up of internal tissue from those who consume very low or very high levels of alcohol were found to age faster. Philibert is hoping to further study why moderate alcohol use might be tied to healthier aging.
“It’s important to do the next stage of study…which is to look at the effect of the lifestyles that come with the moderate alcohol consumption and see if they are driving this. I suspect that may be more than a portion of it,” Philibert said.
The U-I research, which also involved the University of Georgia and Connecticut, also found that any form of smoking leads to premature aging.