No doubt about it – a lifetime of hard drinking takes a toll. Liver damage, dementia and skin aging are all more likely with long-term alcohol abuse. For seniors who are lighter drinkers, though, the message is mixed. Alcohol tolerance is lower, and hangovers last longer with age. Drinking can worsen forgetfulness. But the news isn't all bad, and drinking in moderation may even have some health benefits for seniors. See the different ways drinking affects healthy aging.

Hits harder with age

Tolerance for alcohol can decline over time, possibly due to changes in body composition,. Hormonal changes appear to increase alcohol sensitivity among women and men alike. As you age, the proportion of fat to muscle tends to increase, even if your weight remains stable, he says. So you develop a higher blood alcohol content even if you drink the same amount you used to. Reaction times and motor ability tend to slow with age – and drinking reduces these abilities further.

Light to moderate drinking may have health benefits. But people often underestimate how much they drink. For standard servings, a single drink equals the following: one 12-ounce can or bottle of regular beer or wine cooler; one 5-ounce glass of wine; and one 1.5-ounce shot glass of liquor at 80 proof or less. According to the National Institute on Aging, a healthy person age 65 or older should drink no more than seven alcoholic drinks in a week, or three drinks in any given day.

Intoxication increases the risk of accidents, including falls, fractures and car crashes at any age. But balance and stability pose more of a challenge as people age. Older adults are more likely to suffer falls, with worse injuries – like hip fractures – and longer recovery periods. Alcohol ramps up the risk even more, as it slows the brain's activity. Alertness, coordination, judgement and reaction time all decrease with drinking.

Alcohol accelerates skin aging, . Wrinkles, puffiness, dryness, red cheeks and purple capillaries – heavy drinking can add years to your face. Alcohol dehydrates the entire body, and that includes your skin. Jaundice, when the skin and whites of the eyes turn yellow, is one sign of alcoholic liver disease.

May help your heart

Red wine contains resveratrol, an antioxidant which may increase good HDL cholesterol and protect arteries from damage. Some research suggests that light to moderate drinking, regardless of the type of alcohol, may reduce heart disease risk compared to abstaining. However, if you don't drink, experts say it's not worth starting simply for the sake of potential and unproven benefits. Too much alcohol raises the risk for abnormal heart rhythms and high blood pressure.

Puts strain on your liver

Heavy drinking is a risk factor for disease such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. Even moderate drinking can affect liver function. The relationship works both ways: Because the aging liver can't break down, or metabolize, alcohol as quickly, it stays in your system longer. While moderate drinking may have benefits for the heart, that's not the case for your liver..

Chronic conditions that tend to develop with age can be complicated by alcohol. According to the American Diabetes Association, alcohol can cause dangerously low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, up to 24 hours after drinking. Alcohol may interfere with healthy eating for people with diabetes. Drinking can raise blood pressure in the short term, while repeated alcohol binges contribute to hypertension. Heavy drinking is thought to increase the risk of ulcers and keep existing ulcers from healing.