Does One Drink Make You Dizzy? Why Alcohol Hits Us Harder as We Age

In the article, “Does one drink make you dizzy? Why alcohol hits us harder as we age,” National Public Radio (NPR) correspondent Maria Godoy discusses why alcohol consumption might have a greater impact on individuals as they enter middle age. According to this article, the liver becomes less efficient at metabolizing alcohol as we age. This causes alcohol to remain in the body longer and for concentrations to be higher. Furthermore, muscle mass is replaced with fatty tissue with age. Muscle stores a greater amount of water, which is needed to help dilute alcohol in the blood. As a consequence of these metabolic and body composition changes, individuals are able to tolerate less alcohol with age.

This article also mentions greater rates of dementia and cognitive decline, higher risks of cancer (alcohol is considered a Group-1 carcinogen, like tobacco and asbestos), increased blood pressure, and liver disease in older adults who consume alcohol.

As many audiologists work with older adults, who are particularly susceptible to the negative impacts of alcohol, consumption screening during the history-taking process, adequate referral and counseling protocols, and awareness of these negative impacts are all important steps that should be considered by the practicing clinician.

Reference

Godoy, M. (2025, December 8). Does one drink make you dizzy? Why alcohol hits us harder as we age. National Public Radio.