<p>Drinking in moderation helped one perform better on index measuring dexterity, emotion, mobility and the ability to understand, than abstaining completely.<br /><br />Researchers from US-based Boston University School of Medicine studied 5,404 people aged 50 years and continued to observe them over a follow-up period. <br /><br />Most showed a stable pattern of alcohol consumption and "persistent moderate drinkers" were identified.<br /><br />Regular moderate drinkers, those who consumed a maximum of 14 drinks a week and no more than three a day for women and four a day for men, were found to score highest in each section of the Health Utilities Index.</p>.<p>Subsequent changes in quality of life past 50 were similar in all groups, except for those who cut down on drinking from moderate levels -- and these showed signs of decline, the <br />Daily Mail reports.</p>.<p>The authors write: "Overall, this study shows a positive relation between regular moderate alcohol intake and quality of life in middle-aged adults."<br /><br />They said it was unclear exactly why continued moderate alcohol consumption seemed to have such a beneficial effect.<br /><br />Other experts warned that the study did not take into account the reasons for people stopping drinking or cutting down.<br /><br />Harvey Finkel from the Boston University Medical Centre said: "As people age, even disregarding medical obstacles, social interactions generally decrease, which leads to both less stimulation to drink and less opportunity to drink."<br /></p>
<p>Drinking in moderation helped one perform better on index measuring dexterity, emotion, mobility and the ability to understand, than abstaining completely.<br /><br />Researchers from US-based Boston University School of Medicine studied 5,404 people aged 50 years and continued to observe them over a follow-up period. <br /><br />Most showed a stable pattern of alcohol consumption and "persistent moderate drinkers" were identified.<br /><br />Regular moderate drinkers, those who consumed a maximum of 14 drinks a week and no more than three a day for women and four a day for men, were found to score highest in each section of the Health Utilities Index.</p>.<p>Subsequent changes in quality of life past 50 were similar in all groups, except for those who cut down on drinking from moderate levels -- and these showed signs of decline, the <br />Daily Mail reports.</p>.<p>The authors write: "Overall, this study shows a positive relation between regular moderate alcohol intake and quality of life in middle-aged adults."<br /><br />They said it was unclear exactly why continued moderate alcohol consumption seemed to have such a beneficial effect.<br /><br />Other experts warned that the study did not take into account the reasons for people stopping drinking or cutting down.<br /><br />Harvey Finkel from the Boston University Medical Centre said: "As people age, even disregarding medical obstacles, social interactions generally decrease, which leads to both less stimulation to drink and less opportunity to drink."<br /></p>