On the dissimilar effects of alcohol and aging on the perception of cognitive failings

The effects of age and duration of alcoholism on self-report of cognitive errors were examined in detoxified alcoholic outpatients and normal controls. Among alcoholics, longer duration of alcohol abuse was associated with report of more frequent cognitive errors. Among both groups, aging was associated with report of less frequent errors. Thus, data from self-assessment of cognitive performance suggests that alcoholism and aging have dissimilar effects.