Scientists haven’t confirmed a direct link between age and hangover severity. But there are several reasons older people may feel far worse after a night of drinking than they did when they were younger.
“It’s unclear whether everyone experiences worse hangovers as they age or just some people. There simply hasn’t been enough research on this topic. But there are a few theories,” says Aaron White, head of the Epidemiology and Biostatistics Branch at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).
Alcohol is toxic to our cells; it can damage DNA and interfere with essential cellular processes. As alcohol breaks down, it first becomes another toxic substance—acetaldehyde—before it turns into the less toxic compound acetate and then into water and carbon dioxide.
As we age, the liver enzymes that metabolize alcohol and its byproducts become less effective. That means toxins can linger in the body longer. When acetaldehyde hangs around in the liver, it can trigger widespread inflammation, Live Science reports.
Compared with younger people, older adults are more likely to live with chronic pain and inflammatory conditions such as diabetes and arthritis. Excessive drinking can add to that inflammation.
Both drinking alcohol and natural aging make it harder to maintain the body’s hydration balance. Put those two together and you often get the ingredients for a rough morning after.
Alcohol is a diuretic, so it expels water from the body. Scientists are still debating how much dehydration contributes to hangovers, White says. But dehydration can cause headaches and fatigue. After about age 60, overall body water begins to decline, which can leave a higher concentration of alcohol in the bloodstream.
Alcohol and aging also disrupt sleep. A few drinks may help you fall asleep faster, but they reduce sleep quality and can make you wake earlier, cutting overall rest. White says sleep quality tends to decline with age, so “we may feel the effects of alcohol on fatigue the next day more than we did when we were younger.”
Researchers are still sorting out exactly how aging affects hangovers. But as Aaron White points out, one thing is clear: the only guaranteed way to avoid a hangover is to avoid drinking too much alcohol.
