Cognitive dysfunction and aging among male alcoholics and social drinkers

The relationship between aging and various drinking styles was examined. Four age groups (25-34, 35-44, 45-54, and 55-65 years) and four drinking styles (nondrinkers, social drinkers, alcoholics, and abstinent alcoholics) were compared. A battery of eight neuropsychological tests was administered to 322 men; 72 nondrinkers, 100 social drinkers, 58 abstinent alcoholics, and 92 alcoholics. Cognitive dysfunction related to aging was found to be a more significant factor than decline with alcohol use. Cognitive dysfunction associated with alcohol use was significant for three Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale subtests; Vocabulary, Digit Symbol and Block Design. Alcohol-related differences in intellectual functioning tended to diminish with increasing subject age.