April 8, 2009

expert comments on research to be published in BMJ showing correlation between alcohol intake and tremors

Researchers found that moderate drinking (between 1 and 3 drinks per day) was linked to an increased incidence of involuntary shakes in people aged 65 and over.

Prof Ian Gilmore, President of the Royal College of Physicians and Chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance, said:

“Despite the fact that mental disorders account for the largest number of alcohol-related hospital admissions, insufficient attention is paid to the link between alcohol misuse and neurological illness. This study underlines how important it is to stay within the recommended limits, and to adopt a few alcohol-free days during the course of the week. Equally, healthcare professionals must also be trained to more accurately identify cases where patients are at risk of long term damage due to their drinking habits. A survey published today by this College and the Royal College Nursing found that the majority of medical personnel dealing with alcohol-related illness had received no specific training to recognise and accurately assess alcohol-related problems, despite evidence of a growing need for specialised interventions.”