Regardless of alcohol’s role in aging, older alcoholics, by virtue of their chronological age, may be particularly susceptible to the effects of alcohol. For example, elderly alcoholics have an increased risk of accidents, deleterious side effects, and overt toxicity resulting from alcohol intake. Treatment for medical conditions common among the elderly (e.g., chronic pain and heart disease) also may increase alcohol-related problems in this group. For example, alcohol-medication interactions can have neuropsychological consequences ranging from drowsiness to disorientation; physical effects can include hemorrhage, malnutrition, and liver damage, which also can lead to neuropsychological problems.
