Falls are the number one cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries in older adults in the United States. They can lead to broken bones, long hospital stays, and, in the most serious cases, brain injuries.
In 2021, falls caused the deaths of 36,500 older Americans, including 3,805 in Florida alone. One of the most severe outcomes of falling is a traumatic brain injury, especially a type called intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), which is bleeding inside the skull.
Although we know a lot about how dangerous falls can be, not many studies have looked into how alcohol might affect the risk of serious head injuries after a fall—until now. A new study from Florida Atlantic University’s Schmidt College of Medicine, along with other researchers, looked closely at this issue and found some eye-opening results.
The study was published in the Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open. It’s one of the first to examine how alcohol use relates to the chances of getting a severe head injury in older adults after a fall.
The research team used data from the Geriatric Head Trauma Short Term Outcomes Project (GREAT STOP), which focused on patients aged 65 and older treated at two trauma centers in Palm Beach County, Florida. These trauma centers see many emergency patients each year, making them ideal for studying this topic.
The study looked at 3,128 older adults who had experienced blunt head trauma after a fall and had a head CT scan. Among them, 433 people—or about 13.5%—were diagnosed with intracranial bleeding. Out of all participants, 561 (18.2%) said they had consumed alcohol, and 6% reported drinking daily.
The researchers found a clear connection between alcohol use and the risk of serious head injury. Occasional drinkers were twice as likely to suffer from ICH as non-drinkers.
For people who drank daily, the risk was even higher—about 150% higher than for those who didn’t drink at all. This shows that the more often someone drinks, the greater their risk of serious brain injury after a fall.
The study also found that people who drank alcohol tended to be slightly younger, with an average age of 78, compared to non-drinkers, who averaged 83. But regardless of age, alcohol users were much more likely to suffer from brain bleeds—22% of drinkers had ICH compared to 12% of non-drinkers.
The increased risk followed a pattern. Occasional drinkers had an 8.5% greater risk of ICH, while daily drinkers had a 13.1% higher risk. These numbers are especially important because they show that alcohol use is not just a small factor—it’s a major, and changeable, risk that can lead to serious harm.
Dr. Richard Shih, the lead author of the study and a professor of emergency medicine at FAU, explained that alcohol affects balance, judgment, and alertness, all of which increase the chances of falling.
As people get older, their bodies process alcohol more slowly, and the effects of alcohol last longer and hit harder. Changes in body composition, like more body fat and less water, make alcohol stay in the system longer, even if a person drinks the same amount as they did when they were younger.
Surprisingly, even with all the evidence, many current fall prevention programs don’t include alcohol as a risk factor. Guidelines like the CDC’s STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths & Injuries) and the American Geriatrics Society’s fall prevention advice don’t address alcohol use at all.
Dr. Shih believes that needs to change. He says doctors and caregivers should start asking older patients about alcohol use and consider it in fall prevention plans.
This research shines a light on an important but often overlooked issue. By recognizing alcohol as a serious risk factor, healthcare providers can better protect older adults from dangerous falls and life-threatening head injuries. If you or a loved one is over 65, it’s worth talking to a doctor about how alcohol might be affecting overall health and safety.
For more information, other recent studies have also looked at alcohol’s effects on health, including links between moderate drinking and high blood pressure, and new treatments for alcoholism. If you’re over 40, you should also be cautious about mixing alcohol with certain medications, as this can increase health risks.
This study is a strong reminder that small lifestyle choices, like cutting back on alcohol, can make a big difference in preventing serious injuries later in life.
If you care about alcoholism, please read studies that your age may decide whether alcohol is good or bad for you, and people over 40 need to prevent dangerous alcohol/drug interactions.
For more information about alcohol, please see recent studies about moderate alcohol drinking linked to high blood pressure, and results showing this drug combo shows promise for treating alcoholism.
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