Consommation excessive d'alcool chez le sujet âgé : savoir y penser

Alcohol misuse is not rare in the elderly and is associated with numerous complications. These complications may occur in the course of episodes of drunkenness or in chronic alcohol consumption. Clinical presentations are non-specific and frequently take the form of geriatric syndromes such as falls, dementia, loss of autonomy or psycho-behavioral disorders. The identification of alcohol misuse in the elderly is essential, and age is not a contraindication to the management of addictive behavior. When confronted with any geriatric syndrome, the “alcohol reflex” like the “iatrogenic reflex” should be part of the standardized geriatric approach in order to provide appropriate care.