EARLY VERSUS LATE-ONSET OF ALCOHOLISM IN THE ELDERLY

The age of onset of alcohol-related problems is a typology that is gai ning prominence among clinicians. Findings from epidemiological studie s suggest that there are a significant number of older alcoholics who first begin to drink alcohol ''abusively'' in their later years. While few demographic differences appear between late onset and early onset alcoholics, a number of studies have reported clinical differences be tween these groups that may affect the natural course and treatment ou tcome of the illness.