Aerobic Exercise May Offset Alcohol's Long-Term Health Risks

A new study from Florida State University suggests that regular aerobic exercise may help mitigate some of the long-term health risks associated with heavy drinking in young adults. The research, presented at the American Physiological Society’s annual conference, indicates that physical activity could offer protective effects against the consequences of early-life alcohol consumption.

The study, published in the medical and scientific research journal Karger, involved 37 mice divided into four groups: no alcohol and no exercise, exercise only, alcohol only, or both alcohol and exercise. The mice were monitored for six weeks, simulating early adulthood, and then returned to standard care for the remainder of their natural lives. The findings revealed that mice who consumed large amounts of alcohol but exercised daily lived as long as those that never drank. In contrast, sedentary mice who drank heavily had significantly shorter lifespans, suggesting that consistent physical activity may protect against alcohol-related health decline.

According to Avery Tangen, a co-author of the study, these findings highlight that even short periods of heavy drinking, such as during college or early adulthood, can impact health later in life. Tangen emphasized that aerobic exercise may help protect against some of alcohol’s harmful effects that can shorten lifespan. The study adds to a growing body of evidence linking alcohol consumption to long-term damage, including harm to vital organs such as the liver, heart, and brain, as well as weakening the immune system and increasing the risk of cancer and other serious illnesses.

Longevity experts and leading health organizations increasingly recommend reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption as a factor in increasing life expectancy and promoting healthy aging. Given the damaging effects alcohol may have on multiple organ systems, researchers emphasize the importance of strategies that may help protect the body from harm. Tangen recommended that young adults who wish to consume alcohol couple this behavior with an aerobic exercise training program to attenuate the potential for negative health effects from high doses of alcohol. Aerobic exercise positively affects all organ systems throughout the body, including those negatively impacted by alcohol, such as the brain, liver, and skeletal muscle.