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Moderate alcohol consumption may protect against disabilities for healthy older adults, a new study showed.

People at 50 and older who drink alcohol moderately have 25 percent lower odds of being unable to carry out daily activities such as walking, dressing, eating, running errands or doing chores, according to the study conducted by the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles.

The researchers collected data from a large, nationally representative sample over a period of years to look at the relationship between alcohol and physical disabilities. The findings were published in the January issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology.

"What it's really telling light-to-moderate drinkers is don't worry, you're probably in good company, and you're probably going to get good benefits from this," said lead researcher Dr. Arun S. Karlamangla.

The researchers defined light-to-moderate drinking as less than 15 drinks a week with a daily maximum of five for men and four for women.

Study co-author Dr. Alison A. Moore, an associate professor of medicine in the geriatrics division, said the study included the number of drinks a day to eliminate people who binge drink. The daily consumption may be part of the protective mechanism, she explained. - PNA