Health
Can you become drunk without drinking alcohol? Here’s how it could happen
While some people might have experienced the feeling of “being drunk” the morning after they consumed excessive amounts of alcohol, is it possible to feel intoxicated without ever drinking an alcoholic beverage?
Although it’s extremely rare, experts say it can happen.
The phenomenon is called auto-brewery syndrome, or ABS, according to Dr. Douglas Dieterich, M.D., director of the Institute for Liver Medicine at the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City.
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The syndrome occurs when a patient’s gut gets colonized by a fungus that metabolizes carbohydrates and sugar into alcohol through fermentation, the doctor told Fox News Digital.
Before diagnosing a patient with ABS, Dieterich said that doctors “should always rule out other causes and make sure the patient is not drinking surreptitiously.”
Auto-brewery syndrome occurs when a patient’s gut gets colonized by a fungus that metabolizes carbohydrates and sugar into alcohol through fermentation, a doctor told Fox News Digital. (iStock)
Here’s a deeper dive.
A real-life case of auto-brewery syndrome
In one recent case study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, a 50-year-old woman had not consumed alcohol. Yet she continually had symptoms associated with intoxication, including the smell of alcohol on her breath, slurred speech and elevated blood alcohol levels during several emergency department visits.
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The woman had a history of recurrent urinary tract infections that were treated with several courses of antibiotics, along with medications to reduce stomach acid.
Eventually the patient was diagnosed with auto-brewery syndrome, according to the published report.
In a recent case study, a woman (not pictured) continually showed symptoms associated with intoxication, including having the smell of alcohol on her breath, slurred speech and elevated blood alcohol levels — even though she had not consumed alcohol. (iStock)
“ABS carries paramount medical, legal, social and financial consequences for patients and their loved ones,” Dr. Rahel Zewude, lead author of the study and an infectious diseases and microbiology fellow at University of Toronto in Canada, told Fox News Digital.
“Therefore, awareness of this rare syndrome in the medical community, as well as in the general public, can be instrumental in reducing delays in diagnosis.”
“ABS carries paramount medical, legal, social and financial consequences for patients and their loved ones.”
The woman in the case study saw her physician and visited the emergency department at least seven times over a two-year period. She complained of excessive sleepiness, slurred speech, falls and alcohol smells on her breath.
During her first ED visit, she was diagnosed with alcohol intoxication after having an elevated blood alcohol limit at 39 mmol/L (normal is 2 mmol/L or less) — despite her reports of not consuming alcoholic drinks, which family members verified.
The woman’s liver enzymes were normal and a computed tomography (CT) scan of her head revealed no acute findings, the study said.
The woman was diagnosed with alcohol intoxication after having an elevated blood alcohol limit at 39 mmol/L (normal is 2 mmol/L or less) — despite not consuming alcoholic drinks. (iStock)
Throughout the woman’s various visits to the emergency department, three psychiatrists provided addiction-related care, even though she scored a zero on the CAGE (Cut, Annoyed, Guilty and Eye) screening test, which assesses patients for alcohol use disorder.
(A total score of 2 or higher is considered clinically significant, according to the American Addiction Centers website.)
After experiencing episodes every one to two months, the woman was diagnosed — upon her seventh visit to the ED — with possible auto-brewery syndrome. She was prescribed an antifungal medication called fluconazole and referred to a gastroenterologist.
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She completed a one-month course of fluconazole and adhered to a low-carb diet — and her symptoms began to resolve.
After four months, though, symptoms began to come back when she ramped up her carbohydrate intake, the study said.
“A sugar-free, low-carb diet has been shown to be effective in managing symptoms — the fewer carbohydrates ingested, the less chance that carbohydrate fermentation will occur in the gut,” an expert advised. (iStock)
After another course of fluconazole and a return to a low-carb diet, the symptoms resolved.
A course of probiotics was also prescribed to help foster better gut health.
What makes a person susceptible to ABS?
Several factors contribute to ABS, according to Zewude.
“The disease likely presents when these factors emerge simultaneously alongside a high-carbohydrate diet,” she told Fox News Digital.
One of the main factors is disruption of the gut microbiome, which is the population of microorganisms in the gut.
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“In ABS, the fungi that ferment alcohol overpopulate our gut ahead of other non-fermenting bacteria,” Zewude said.
“This gut microbiome disruption can occur due to frequent or prolonged courses of antibiotics.”
One of the main factors in ABS is disruption of the gut microbiome, which is the population of microorganisms in the gut. “In ABS, the fungi that ferment alcohol overpopulate our gut ahead of other non-fermenting bacteria,” the study author said. (iStock)
Diabetes as well as gastrointestinal illnesses such as Crohn’s, liver disease and ulcerative colitis can also be risk factors for ABS, Zewude said.
Genetic predispositions that affect how the body metabolizes and clears ethanol can also play a role.
Testing for and treating ABS
One way to test for ABS is to perform an oral glucose challenge in a supervised setting, where a patient first measures their fasting blood alcohol level.
This baseline level should be undetectable if the person had fasted for eight hours and did not consume any alcohol, according to Zewude.
“Diet modification is an extremely important part of reducing or resolving symptoms of auto-brewery disease.”
The patient then ingests a high load of glucose, and their alcohol level is measured in 30-minute, one-hour, two-hour, four-hour, eight-hour and 24-hour increments.
“If their alcohol level begins to rise after ingestion of glucose, that can help confirm gut fermentation of alcohol from carbohydrates, which is ABS,” Zewude told Fox News Digital.
Although ABS has been described in medical literature for over 50 years, the condition still remains misunderstood, with limited information regarding diagnosis and treatment, according to health experts. (iStock)
The test should be conducted in a monitored clinic to ensure that the patient is not consuming alcohol, and to ensure safety in the event that the patient does become intoxicated, the expert advised.
The rare condition requires a multidisciplinary approach that may include a liver specialist or gastroenterologist, primary care physician, infectious diseases specialist and registered dietitian, health experts told Fox News Digital.
It is typically treated with antifungal medications and a low-carb diet, as noted in the case study mentioned earlier.
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“Diet modification is an extremely important part of reducing or resolving symptoms of auto-brewery disease,” Simone Gmuca, a registered dietitian who works with patients in Douglaston, New York, told Fox News Digital.
Patients with ABS should also incorporate plenty of lean meats, fish, avocados, olive oil, nuts, seeds and leafy green vegetables into their diet, experts recommended. (iStock)
“A sugar-free, low-carb diet has been shown to be effective in managing symptoms — the fewer carbohydrates ingested, the less chance that carbohydrate fermentation will occur in the gut,” added Gmuca, who was not affiliated with the study.
Patients should avoid simple carbohydrates like breads, pastas, crackers, sugary beverages, potato chips and fruit juices during treatment, the doctor said.
“Increasing lean protein, heart-healthy fats and low-starch vegetables can help promote satiation and reduce the risk of nutrient deficiencies,” Gmuca added.
The condition known as ABS requires a multidisciplinary approach that may include a liver specialist or gastroenterologist, primary care physician, infectious diseases specialist and registered dietitian, said health experts. (iStock)
Patients with ABS should also incorporate plenty of lean meats, fish, avocados, olive oil, nuts, seeds and leafy green vegetables into their diet, she recommended.
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Although ABS has been described in medical literature for over 50 years, the condition still remains misunderstood — with limited information regarding diagnosis and treatment, according to health experts.
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Older adults identified as “super movers” are about half as likely to develop cognitive impairment than their peers.
That’s according to a recent study led by Stony Brook Medicine in New York, which evaluated the cognitive function of 4,000 adults 80 and over who participated in multiple aging and longevity studies over several years.
Among this group, 6% to 10% were classified as super movers, which means they walk at a much faster pace than others of the same age and gender — at speeds comparable to people three decades younger.
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The super movers were found to have about half the risk of cognitive decline compared to seniors with typical gait speed.
The findings were published in the journal Neurology on June 16.
Older adults identified as “super movers” are about half as likely to develop cognitive impairment than their peers. (iStock)
“The study reinforces that mobility and brain health are closely connected,” lead study author Dr. Joe Verghese, MD, neurologist at Stony Brook Medicine, told Fox News Digital. “This suggests that preserving mobility may be an important marker of healthy brain aging and resilience.”
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The most intriguing finding, according to Verghese, was that super movers maintained cognitive function despite having similar dementia-related brain changes as their peers.
In postmortem brain analysis, there was no difference in dementia-related pathologies between the super movers and the slower walkers, the study stated.
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“This suggests they may possess resilience mechanisms that help preserve brain function even in the presence of age-related changes,” he said. “Understanding these resilience factors could lead to new strategies for promoting healthy brain aging.”
As the study was observational, there were some limitations, and it does not prove that walking faster prevents dementia, the researchers noted.
Super movers were found to have about half the risk of cognitive decline compared to seniors with typical gait speed. (iStock)
“Other factors, such as cardiovascular health, physical fitness or genetics, may also contribute to both faster walking and better cognitive outcomes,” Verghese said.
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This study adds to growing evidence that what’s good for the heart and muscles also benefits the brain, he noted, adding that “staying physically active remains one of the most effective, evidence-based ways to support healthy aging.”
“Walking speed is best viewed as a marker of overall health, not a treatment.”
“The broader message is that physical activity is important at any age,” Verghese said. “Walking is an easy step-up point because you don’t need any special equipment. You can do it inside or outdoors, and you can do it on a regular basis. You can walk with a dog, you can walk with a friend.”
Any activity is beneficial if it’s done regularly and with the right intensity, he added.
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Rather than just trying to walk faster, the neurologist recommends that seniors focus on maintaining mobility through regular physical activity, strength training, balance exercises and good cardiovascular health.
“Walking speed is best viewed as a marker of overall health, not a treatment,” Verghese noted.
Major public health guidelines from the CDC and U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, such as brisk walking.
Major public health guidelines from the CDC and U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, such as brisk walking. (iStock)
This can be achieved by walking 30 minutes a day, five days a week, or about 20 to 25 minutes most days. Another option is to engage in shorter sessions that add up over the day.
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“You have to do it within your health limitations and medical conditions,” Verghese advised. “So if there are any medical concerns, I would get your physician to clear you before starting exercise.” The good thing about walking, he added, is that you can start at a slow pace and then gradually build up to a brisker pace.
“And then adding on strength and balance training, whatever age you are, I think is also important.”
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Health
Dr Oz warns Medicare scammers are stealing billions — and your personal information could be next
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Washington, D.C. – Medicare fraud is a multibillion-dollar problem that government officials say threatens both taxpayer dollars and Americans’ personal identities.
In a July 6 interview with Fox News Digital at the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., Dr. Mehmet Oz warned that every dollar stolen through Medicare fraud is a dollar taxpayers lose – a problem that has worsened since the COVID pandemic.
“If I had to just pick one thing to focus on to make healthcare more affordable in America, I’d go to health fraud and all the waste and abuse that accompanies it,” said Oz, who is the administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. “And just to put this in perspective, we think it’s about $100 billion a year.”
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Medicare fraud can include billing for services that were never provided, overcharging for medical equipment, using stolen patient or doctor information, or performing unnecessary procedures, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
CMS administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz is pictured on stage at the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., on July 6, 2026. (Angelica Stabile/Fox News Digital)
As the Trump administration ramped up efforts to combat fraud, CMS reported $41.9 billion in Medicare program integrity savings in 2025, up 59% from $26.3 billion in 2024.
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Medicare fraud not only harms the federal budget and steals from taxpayers, but exposes seniors to identity theft, unnecessary care, higher premiums and reduced access, Oz cautioned.
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Removing corruption from the healthcare system will have the greatest impact among seniors, since “so much of the fraud is perpetrated against them,” the administrator said.
“I’m talking about people tricking seniors to give up their Medicare beneficiary numbers, which is like a credit card basically,” he said. “These scammers can take those numbers and use them for all kinds of illegitimate purposes.”
“If I had to just pick one thing to focus on to make healthcare more affordable in America, I’d go to health fraud and all the waste and abuse that accompanies it,” said Oz. (Fox News Digital)
“People are stealing from you by pretending to send you drugs you don’t want, wheelchairs you don’t need, [and] services you never asked for or don’t benefit from,” Oz added.
To prevent this, he shared his top advice for seniors: Do not give your Medicare beneficiary number to anybody, do not answer questions on a phone call from an unknown person and do not give away personal information.
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“These scammers are calling seniors, tricking them, and once they have key information, they can steal it,” he said. “And I won’t know it and you won’t know it.”
“We want to protect people who need these programs the most,” Oz went on. “You do that by making sure scoundrels don’t corrupt the systems and steal money out of the till that is designed to help folks in dire straits when they’re vulnerable and in need of services.”
Seniors should never share their Medicare information with unknown people, the administrator advised. (iStock)
Removing fraud could “double the life expectancy of the trust fund that makes all this possible,” Oz predicted.
“If you’re worried about Medicare being there when you’re ready to retire in a couple decades, depending on how old you are, and you’re concerned that it might not last because of all the fraud that’s hitting it … you’ve got a good [reason to] worry,” he said.
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“If we take the fraud out, we could double the life expectancy, which means you, your kids, your kids’ kids … they could all benefit from this beautiful safety net program.”
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