Lifetime alcohol exposure tied to slower dexterity and poorer balance in aging adults

A small observational study of 83 healthy adults found that, when combined with age, lifetime alcohol intake predicted slower manual dexterity on the Grooved Pegboard test and, for eyes-closed balance, poorer performance with higher lifetime average drinks per month. While all participants completed the eyes-open balance test, the findings suggest that even low-level drinking may relate to subtle motor declines with age. The study is limited by a modest sample and non-experimental design, so it cannot prove causation, and sex imbalance may affect generalizability; more research is needed on broader cognitive outcomes and brain markers.