Alcohol consumption at midlife and successful ageing in women: a prospective cohort analysis in the nurses' health study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Observational studies have documented inverse associations between moderate alcohol consumption and risk of premature death. It is largely unknown whether moderate alcohol intake is also associated with overall health and well-being among populations who have survived to older age. In this study, we prospectively examined alcohol use assessed at midlife in relation to successful ageing in a cohort of US women.

Methods and findings

Alcohol consumption at midlife was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Subsequently, successful ageing was defined in 13,894 Nurses' Health Study participants who survived to age 70 or older, and whose health status was continuously updated. "Successful ageing" was considered as being free of 11 major chronic disease

SUBMITTER: Sun Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3167795 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature