How just ONE drink a day beats depression in retirees and can help with social life

If you’re heading into retirement and are tempted to grab a glass of wine every now and then, try not to feel too bad about it.

That’s because moderate drinking during this transition period could even help protect against depression, according to one study.

Researchers followed more than 27,500 people for 14 years, recording both their drinking habits and their health status.

They found that retirees generally showed more signs of depression than those who were still working.

But analysis found that retirees who drank in moderation appeared to have fewer symptoms of depression than those who binged or abstained completely.

Moderate drinking was classified as one to three drinks per day for women, and one to four for men.

Binge drinking, meanwhile, was classified as drinking four or more drinks per day for women, or five or more drinks per day for men.

The authors say that moderate alcohol consumption may be associated with fewer depressive symptoms because alcohol can improve mood through socialization.

Overall, retirees showed more signs of depression than those who were still working (file photo)

But they warned that they are not in favor of having regular drinks to adjust to retirement.

Dr. Antonia Diaz-Valdes, mayor of the University of Chile, said: ‘Drinking alcohol increases the risk of falls and other injuries and can lead to dependence – and the poor health that usually comes with it.

‘There’s no doubt that adjusting to retirement can be difficult for some, but turning to alcohol is not the answer.’

Overall, the authors say it is crucial that people have support in retirement to prevent them turning to heavy alcohol use so they can adapt to the change.

“Providing alternative ways to cope with heavy alcohol use for retirees is critical,” added Dr. Christina Seller of Simmons University in Boston.

The findings have been published in the journal Aging and Mental Health.