Aims

To support the free and open dissemination of research findings and information on alcoholism and alcohol-related problems. To encourage open access to peer-reviewed articles free for all to view.

For full versions of posted research articles readers are encouraged to email requests for "electronic reprints" (text file, PDF files, FAX copies) to the corresponding or lead author, who is highlighted in the posting.

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Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Elderly drinkers may be putting themselves at risk|Tribune reporter
22 April 2008
The 71-year-old former community college teacher was struggling in her retirement. She missed her job. Divorced and living alone, with her children far away, she felt increasingly isolated and lonely.

As boredom and depression sunk in, she turned more and more to alcohol for solace.
But her drinking presented a whole new set of problems. The retired Chicago teacher stopped eating and lost weight, and she fell several times, injuring herself.

With the nation's population graying, health professionals have grown increasingly concerned about the number of people 65 and older who drink unhealthy amounts of alcohol.

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society reported that 9 percent of elderly Medicare beneficiaries—16 percent of the men and 4 percent of the women—engaged in unhealthy drinking. Researchers said those numbers could be conservative because they are based on self-reporting.
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