[Does one become an alcoholic after age 60?]

The authors have examined all the patients which were older than 60 years and had been hospitalised for alcoholism over a span of 10 years and within a certain region. The study of their files shows that more than 70% had a previous history of alcoholism. The patients without history of alcoholism, displayed mostly depressive syndromes. The authors conclude that the occurrence of beginning of alcoholism after age 60 is possible but rare.