As your loved one begins displaying obvious signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s, you will undoubtedly begin considering how you might make adjustments to his or her daily life to ensure his her health and safety. In particular, one question you may ask concerns whether or not your loved one should continue enjoying an occasional alcoholic beverage such as wine or beer. While it nearly goes without saying that you should consult a physician about alcohol-use if your loved one currently uses medication to regulate his or her condition—a drug interaction can result in serious situation—you may not be so clear on whether or not your loved can continue to responsibly consume alcohol. For instance, while a medical practitioner may prescribe medications that don’t interact with alcohol, and your loved one’s caretaker incorrectly allow your loved one to continue his or her habit of an occasional drink. Such a situation should be avoided at all costs, as excess consumption—aside from causing you loved one to feel confused, upset, or angry—could easily result in a physical injury, such as an abrasion or broken bone. Should such a situation arise with your loved one—whether it involves a medical practitioner or a caretaker—you should do everything within your power to contact a qualified elder law attorney as soon as possible. Doing so will help you determine whether or not the medical practitioner, the caretaker, or even both can be held liable for injuries or any other damages.
While you may have many concerns about the potential prescription interactions and other consequences associated with alcohol consumption, you may find comfort in the fact that many medical practitioners—depending on the circumstances—are okay with Alzheimer’s patients consuming alcohol. Some even go so far as to recommend a glass of wine for you loved one before bed to help him or her with tension, restlessness, or anxiety. You may also find comfort in the fact that a body of published studies indicates that alcohol does not necessarily spur the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
To explain, the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism published a summary of reports (spanning the last two decades) that have a couple of interesting finds on the relationship between alcohol consumption and Alzheimer’s. For instance, the summary indicates that while alcohol use and abuse have been identified as a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, the medical community hasn’t yet reached a consensus on whether or not alcohol abuse is a significant player in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. The report explains that one of the reasons scientists and medical practitioners have yet to “rule,” so to speak, on the effects of alcohol (and whether or not those effects lead to the onset of Alzheimer’s) is that symptoms of Alzheimer’s and alcohol dementia have many indistinguishable similarities and that a standard for diagnosing alcohol dementia does not exist. Also, the summary suggests that existing studies of the relationship between alcohol consumption and Alzheimer’s do not currently offer much evidence to suggest alcohol consumption leads to the onset of Alzheimer’s. Regardless of the existing studies, however, you will undoubtedly have an overwhelming number of questions concerning your loved one’s specific set of circumstances.
