Alcoholism in the Geriatric Population

Abstract

Alcohol abuse by elderly persons may be overlooked by clinicians because the effects of alcoholism on intellectual processes may be attributed to advancing age. In older patients, in whom liver and other organ functions may be reduced, even modest social drinking will impair cognitive abilities. Alcoholism is especially detrimental to older persons because 1) their blood levels of ethanol are higher than those in younger persons, and brain neurons may be more sensitive to the drug; 2) ethanol can disturb their sleep and sexual performance; 3) their cognitive functions may be significantly impaired by ethanol; and 4) for elderly patients, who commonly take a variety of drugs, ethanol and drug interactions are particularly hazardous.

Sexuality in older women with mental health problems

“…Alcohol may impair sexual drive and performance (Hartford & Samorajski, 1982). It may be associated with organic brain disease, sleep disturbance and depressive illness and may be a cause of presentation to mental health professionals.…”

Effect of age increase on metabolism and toxicity of ethanol in female rats

“…Generally old people or animals have a lower alcohol tolerance than younger counterparts (Vestal et al, 1977;Abel and York, 1979;Hartford and Samorajski, 1982;York, 1983;Mendenhall et al, 1989). It is suspected that the age-dependent increase in ethanol effects would be associated with greater sensitivity of target tissues and/or high blood ethanol concentrations.…”

Anemia in Elderly Koreans

“…Elderly people often fail to meet the daily requirement of 50 µg of folic acid because of decreased food intake. Body stores of folate are limited and may be exhausted within weeks to months, and folate metabolism may be affected adversely by alcohol ingestion 27. Serum folate levels less than 3 ng/mL usually indicate deficiency, but are not always helpful because 10% of presumably healthy elderly individuals have been found to have the levels below the normal limit 6.…”