This paper gives a short review about the available literature: concer
ning the impacts of age of alcoholism onset. Empirical studies of the
last twenty years have mainly tried to find differences between onset
during youth and the middle age. There are only few reports about spec
ific characteristics of patients, who have developed alcoholism in the
ir older age. Biological and psychosocial findings and therapeutic con
siderations are described. Their account on further research and pract
ical care are discussed.