Alcohol Interventions May Benefit Some Older Adults

Alcohol-related interventions may be effective among older adults, according to a recent systematic review and meta-analysis.

For their review, the researchers identified studies from 2000 to 2006 that had investigated interventions to prevent or reduce excessive alcohol consumptions, as well as those that reported cognitive and dementia outcomes.
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Among the 13 studies that were assessed, there was evidence of an overall intervention effect for combined 3- and 6-month outcomes (pooled standard mean difference [SMD] =0.18) and 12 month outcomes (SMD -0.16). However, due to significant heterogeneity, the risk of bias for most studies was not clear.

The researchers also observed that more intensive interventions with personalized feedback, physician advice, educational materials, and follow-up could be most effective, based on limited evidence from 3 studies. However, they noted that simple interventions including brief interventions, leaflets, and alcohol assessments with advice could be effective as well.

“Alcohol interventions in older people may be effective but studies were at unclear or high risk of bias,” the researchers concluded. “Evidence gaps include primary prevention, cost-effectiveness, impact on cognitive and dementia outcomes.”

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Kelly S, Olanrewaju O, Cowan A, Brayne C, Lafortune L. Interventions to prevent and reduce excessive alcohol consumption in older people: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Age Ageing. 2018;47(2):175-184. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afx132.