Alcohol Use & Depression in Older Adults

Retirement can bring new challenges, such as declining mobility, the loss of social connections, and boredom. To cope with these issues, some older adults may turn to alcohol. These challenges can also put you at risk for depression, which is common in older adults. 

About 60% of older adults with depression also drink alcohol. Alcohol acts as a depressant that can mimic or worsen symptoms of depression. The aging process itself can affect how the body processes alcohol. While you might feel better when drinking alcohol, it can eventually lead to a mental “crash” — where you feel more depressed and crave alcohol to boost your mood. 

Alcohol causes brain chemicals like GABA, serotonin, and dopamine to get out of balance. When that happens, you need more alcohol to feel better, creating a vicious cycle where the brain can’t control your mood without alcohol. Read on to learn more about the connection between alcohol and depression, and how you can get help.   

Key takeaways

• Alcohol is a depressant that can cause or worsen depression symptoms.
• Alcohol and depression are closely linked, and one can affect the other.
• Therapy can help manage the symptoms of depression, even if you’re in an alcohol recovery program.

How does alcohol affect depression as you get older?

As we age, our bodies change in ways that can make alcohol more potent. 

One of these reasons is that there’s less water in the body than there used to be in your younger self. Alcohol needs water to dilute, and when there’s less water, alcohol becomes more concentrated in the blood. Older adults also metabolize alcohol through the liver more slowly. These two factors mean older adults can have higher blood alcohol concentrations than younger adults after the same number of drinks. 

Alcohol also disrupts sleep. While alcohol can initially make you sleepy, it prevents your brain from getting enough REM sleep, which is necessary for processing emotions and thinking clearly. Over time, broken sleep can worsen depression symptoms, including anxiety and irritability. 

Alcohol can affect your thinking patterns, and drinking too much alcohol can even increase the risk of dementia and other cognitive impairments. 

Can even moderate alcohol use cause depression symptoms?

Having a glass or two of wine with dinner may gradually become a daily habit. Over time, habitual casual or social drinking can become a dependence on alcohol.

Many people assume that only heavy drinking can affect mental health, including for older adults. But even social drinking can be concerning, especially for older adults who take antidepressant medication to treat depression. 

Alcohol is a depressant that slows down your thinking and movements, and can make you tired. Older adults with depression can have these symptoms as well. Taking antidepressants and drinking alcohol — even in small amounts — can prevent the medication from effectively treating your depression symptoms. 

Drinking alcohol every day can interfere with your body’s natural mood chemicals like serotonin and dopamine. Even a small amount of alcohol can increase dopamine levels. This can cause a short-term feeling of reward in the brain, which makes your brain crave more alcohol. 

Some older adults use alcohol to manage stress or anxiety. While you might feel better temporarily, even moderate alcohol consumption can create a rebound effect where you’re more anxious or irritable the following day.  

What is alcohol-induced depression?

Alcohol-induced depression is when depressive symptoms are caused by drinking alcohol. 

Clinical depression, or primary depression, means the symptoms of depression are there even without alcohol. 

But depression and alcohol use disorder often happen together, and one can cause the other. 

If depression continues even after a period of sobriety where you’re not drinking any alcohol, it’s more likely to be clinical depression. But if you notice your depression symptoms improve when you stop drinking alcohol, you might have alcohol-induced depression. 

In most cases, it’s helpful to treat both alcohol use disorder and depression at the same time. However, if an older adult is drinking heavily and needs medical supervision — such as detox — to quit alcohol safely, treating the alcohol use should be a priority. If you aren’t sure if alcohol use is causing depression, it might be helpful to address the alcohol use first to see if symptoms improve. 

Even if you’re in an alcohol recovery program, it can be beneficial to receive online therapy for depression. You don’t have to choose one or the other, and in many cases, it can be helpful to do both. Ideally, your therapist is aware of your alcohol use recovery plan, so they can personalize treatment appropriately. 

How sobriety helps improve depression symptoms in seniors

For many older adults, reducing or quitting alcohol completely can lead to improvements in mood and overall well-being. Here’s why:

• Alcohol is a depressant and can make depression symptoms worse
• Older adults are more sensitive to alcohol, so even drinking in small amounts can affect mood
• Depression and alcohol use are cyclical, meaning depression can lead to drinking, and drinking can make depression worse
• A period of sobriety can help you figure out if your symptoms of depression are related to drinking alcohol or not

Medicare plans typically cover treatment for depression, and Sailor Health works directly with Medicare to help you understand your benefits and keep your out-of-pocket costs low. Most Sailor Health patients have a $0 copay.

Our providers are older themselves, with deep experience helping people navigate the challenges that come with later life — including the relationship between alcohol and mood. Sessions are available by phone (including landline) or Zoom, so there's no need to drive anywhere or arrange transportation. We make it easy to get started, and therapy can begin as soon as 24 hours after signing up.

Alcohol and Depression FAQ

Does alcohol cause depression or just make it worse? 

Both — alcohol can directly cause depression by affecting your brain chemicals, but it can also worsen depression over time. 

Does depression improve after quitting alcohol?

Yes, in some instances, depression can get better after quitting alcohol because both alcohol and depression can fuel each other. But if you have clinical depression, your symptoms won’t necessarily go away on their own without treatment, even if you stop drinking alcohol. 

Is there a link between alcohol use and dementia risk?

Yes, alcohol use can increase the risk of dementia because of the way it changes the brain and your thinking.

Can you drink alcohol if you’re taking antidepressants?

No, it’s usually not recommended to drink alcohol while taking antidepressants. Alcohol can prevent antidepressants from working as they should. Alcohol can also increase side effects like drowsiness and dizziness.

References

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Farré, A., Tirado, J., Spataro, N., Alías-Ferri, M., Torrens, M., & Fonseca, F. (2020). Alcohol Induced Depression: Clinical, Biological and Genetic Features. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 9(8), 2668. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9082668. https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/9/8/2668