title: Alcohol and older people from a public health perspective.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  As part of the European project VINTAGE, a systematic review of scientific literature was undertaken to document the evidence base on the impact of alcohol on the health and well-being of older people, and on effective policies and preventive approaches to face the problem in this steadily increasing segment of the population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  369 references were identified, from which 78 papers were selected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The review confirms the paucity of data on this topic and the need for more specific research. Although there is scarce evidence, the elderly seems to respond equally well to alcohol policy, screening instruments and brief interventions as do younger adults. According to a lifecycle approach, a future focus on the middle aged is also recommended.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scafato
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Galluzzo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004347:Drug Interactions; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006293:Health Promotion; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011634:Public Health
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol