Older people may be more impacted by alcohol use leading to increased risk of falling and injury.  Our research has shown that motor coordination and movement in aged rats is also significantly more impacted by acute ethanol compared to adult or adolescent rats.  For example, aged rats have less more coordination following acute ethanol and aged rats in both the aerial righting reflex task and accelerating roto-rod task.  In addition, acute ethanol exposure impairs motor activity more in aged animals compared to adult animals.  See Figures.  

​

These data suggest that the older population should use alcohol cautiously to avoid falling and injury.