How life changes and surroundings affect drinking in older adults

Transitions and Alcohol Use in the Later Lifespan: Environmental and Individual-level Influences

NIH-funded research Pacific Institute for Res and Evaluation · NIH-11243514

Looking at how life events and living conditions relate to alcohol use in adults aged 60–85 in California.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionPacific Institute for Res and Evaluation NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Beltsville, United States)
Project IDNIH-11243514 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This project follows adults aged 60–85 in California with three yearly surveys to track how drinking changes over time. Questions cover health, income, living situation, routine activities, and places where alcohol is available or consumed. Researchers will report how much and how often people drink, which situations lead to more drinking, and whether life changes cause increases or decreases in alcohol use. The findings are intended to help older adults, doctors, and managers of senior venues make safer choices around alcohol.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants are adults aged 60–85 living in California who drink alcohol or are concerned about changes in their drinking.

Not a fit: Younger adults under 60, people living outside California, or those who never drink are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help clinicians and community programs prevent alcohol-related harm and tailor advice for older adults.

How similar studies have performed: Long-term surveys have revealed drinking trends before, but few studies have tracked older adults with repeated yearly surveys, so this approach adds valuable long-term data.

Where this research is happening

Beltsville, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.