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Alcohol use and depression from middle age to the oldest old: gender is more important than age

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 February 2012

Robert J. Tait ,
Davina J. French ,
Richard Burns  and
Kaarin J. Anstey
Robert J. Tait*
Affiliation:
Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
Davina J. French
Affiliation:
Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
Richard Burns
Affiliation:
Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
Kaarin J. Anstey
Affiliation:
Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Dr. Robert J. Tait, Centre for Mental Health Research, College of Medicine and Health Science, Building 63, Eggleston Road, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia. Phone: +61 2 6125 9106; Fax: +61 2 61250733. Email: Robert.Tait@anu.edu.au.
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Abstract

Background: Alcohol use disorders are associated with other mental health disorders in young adults, but there are few data on alcohol use and mental health outcomes in older adults, particularly the oldest old. This study examines the relationship between alcohol consumption and depressive symptoms.

Methods: Data were collected from the Dynamic Analyses to Optimise Ageing (DYNOPTA) project, which has pooled nine Australian longitudinal studies. Alcohol consumption was classified using standard drinks (10 g alcohol)/day as: abstinent, low risk (<0–≤2 standard drinks), long-term risk (>2–≤4) and short-term risk (>4). Probable depression was classified from harmonized scores on various standard instruments (e.g. Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale).

Results: Overall, 39,104 (86%) participants contributed data. Alcohol classification at baseline showed 7,526 abstinent, 28,112 low risk, 2,271 long-term risk, and 1,195 short-term risk participants. Age ranged from 45 to 103 year (median 60). Using generalized estimating equations (GEE), there were significant gender by alcohol and gender by age interactions, so the analysis was split by gender. Among males, the abstinent and short-term risk groups had increased likelihood of depression: in females the abstinent, long- and short-term risk groups had increased odds of depression. Increased odds of depression was also associated with former and current smoking, younger age-group, not being partnered, leaving school before age 15 and increasing levels of health-impaired walking, dressing, or bathing.

Conclusion: The impact of alcohol use differs by gender, nevertheless those using higher levels of alcohol or who smoke should be screened for depression and may benefit from interventions.

Keywords

agedoldest oldlongitudinalDYNOPTArisk factors
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 24 , Special Issue 8: Focus on late life depression , August 2012 , pp. 1275 - 1283
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2012

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