Alcoholism in the elderly: an analysis of 50 patients.

The personal, demographic, and socioeconomic aspects of alcoholism in 50 elderly and 50 young alcoholics were examined. A higher number of elderly alcoholics were veterans, widowed, and had a long history of alcoholism when compared with younger alcoholics. During drinking bouts, the younger alcoholics had more blackouts, hallucinations, sleeping difficulties, and loss of appetite than did the elderly alcoholics. These findings must be interpreted with caution in view of the small sample size and the fact that geriatric alcoholics are not a homogeneous group.