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Alcohol pharmacodynamics in young-elderly adults contrasted with young and middle-aged subjects

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Abstract

Effects of aging on ethyl alcohol (EtOH) pharmacodynamics were examined over progressive dosing schedules (0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 g/kg) in groups of young (25.0±2.9 years), middle-aged (41.1±6.6 years), and young-elderly adults (60.9±2.6 years) using three computerized cognitive-neuromotor tasks: digitsymbol substitution (DSS), keypad reaction time (KRT), and subcritical tracking (SCT). Hysteresis curves of performance impairment (adjusted for pre-drug baseline) as a function of blood alcohol concentration (BAC) were examined for time-course effects, and regression analyses were performed to assess the contribution of age beyond that accounted for by BAC. Results reflected differences in the patterning but not magnitude of impairment for elderly subjects, with earlier decrements and more rapid acute tolerance observed for DSS, in conjunction with less pharmacodynamic sensitivity for SCT. Regression analyses furthermore indicated that age and impairment were negatively related, arguing against synergistic intoxication effects as a function of aging. Analyses specifically comparing performance at baseline versus legally intoxicating BACs (>1.0 mg/ml) likewise reflected a lack of interactive effects involving the elderly. Elderly subjects nevertheless exhibited significantly lower baseline performance for DSS and KRT than young subjects and achieved higher BACs with equivalent doses. These latter findings support the exercise of caution by elderly individuals consuming EtOH prior to engaging in neuromotor pursuits such as driving.

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Author notes

  1. S. Hege

    Present address: F. P. G. Child Development Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 27499, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Behavioral Neuropharmacology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Box 3870, Duke University Medical Center, 27710, Durham, North Carolina, USA

    L. A. Tupler, S. Hege & E. H. Ellinwood Jr.

  2. Behavioral Neuropharmacology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Duke University Medical Center, 27710, Durham, North Carolina, USA

    E. H. Ellinwood Jr.

Authors
  1. L. A. Tupler
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  2. S. Hege
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  3. E. H. Ellinwood Jr.
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Supported by NIDA Grant 5 R01 DA01883

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Tupler, L.A., Hege, S. & Ellinwood, E.H. Alcohol pharmacodynamics in young-elderly adults contrasted with young and middle-aged subjects. Psychopharmacology 118, 460–470 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02245947

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02245947

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