Scientists Stun with New Finding: Moderate Drinking May Beat Exercise for Longevity in Seniors (5 Photos)

British researchers have wrapped up a major multi-year study and startled the scientific community with an unexpected conclusion: for elderly individuals, a daily glass of wine might do more for longevity than hitting the gym. The project, known as "The 90+ Study," began in 2003 as a follow-up to the Leisure World Cohort Study (LWCS), which originally launched back in 1981.





Researchers took a deep dive into the lives of nonagenarians to figure out what set them apart and allowed them to live longer than their peers. Beyond tracking the habits and day-to-day routines of these long-lived individuals, the team closely monitored how these lifestyle factors directly impacted their overall health.



Alongside regular surveys, participants underwent comprehensive medical checkups, as well as semiannual neurophysiological and neurological evaluations. Thanks to this meticulous research, the team identified common threads across the participants' lives that are very likely key drivers of their impressive longevity.

Nearly every senior who lived past 90 revealed that they had never said no to a glass of good wine. That doesn't mean downing an entire bottle with dinner, however. For adults over 65, the sweet spot is just one glass a day, while those under 65 can benefit from up to two.





The benefits aren't exclusive to wine, either; other low-alcohol beverages, like beer, offer similar perks. Moderation remains the golden rule—a sentiment strongly echoed by both the study's subjects and the researchers themselves.

What Are the Health Perks of Moderate Drinking?

First and foremost, moderate alcohol consumption significantly cuts the risk of ischemic stroke. Those who indulge in a light drink now and then are also less likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, the overall rate of cardiovascular mortality drops, leading to a noticeable reduction in fatal heart conditions.



Published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the paper stresses that while moderate drinking has clear protective benefits, it shouldn't replace regular physical activity altogether.

Lead researcher Dr. Emmanuel Stamatakis spent years compiling data on 36,370 older adults across England and Scotland. Participants were divided into three groups: those with sedentary lifestyles, those who engaged in moderate physical activity, and regular exercisers.



By analyzing 5,735 deaths recorded over a 10-year span, the researchers mapped out the links between physical activity, alcohol intake, and cause-specific mortality. The findings showed that moderate wine drinkers who also stayed somewhat active lived longer than both complete teetotalers and heavy drinkers.

At the same time, the data confirmed that higher weekly alcohol intake directly correlates with an increased risk of dying from cancer. In fact, malignant tumors were the second leading cause of death among the cohorts examined.

Backed by these findings, evidence suggests that pairing an active lifestyle with an occasional glass of wine could be a more reliable recipe for a long life than avoiding alcohol and exercise altogether—or working out while completely abstaining. A shining example of this philosophy was Francisco Núñez Olivera, who once held the title of the world's oldest living man.