Premature aging in female alcoholics. A neuropsychological study.

The hypothesis of premature aging in middle-aged female alcoholics was tested by comparing their level pattern of neuropsychological test performance with age-equated nonalcoholic females and elderly nonalcoholic women. Alcoholics had significantly poorer performance on the tests than nonalcoholic peers but performed significantly better than the elderly. A subsample of more severe alcoholics was not significantly different from the elderly in level of performance although they were approximately 20 years younger. However, there were no differences among the groups in pattern of test performance. The data on level of performance partially support the hypothesis of premature aging in alcoholics. Stronger support would be attained if it were demonstrated that the alcoholics and elderly have a similar impairment in the neuropsychological processes eventuating in lowered performance.