Alcohol Sensitivity Among Older Adults Who Consume Alcohol

June 3, 2026 updated by: University of Florida

Individual Differences in Alcohol Sensitivity

This is a proof-of-concept study exploring individual differences in sensitivity to alcohol among older healthy current drinkers aged 65 to 80. Participants will complete two sessions during which they will complete questionnaires and laboratory measures of mental abilities and brain activity and receive a beverage that may or may not contain a moderate dose of alcohol.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

As a preliminary, proof-of-concept study, the project is designed to provide information regarding variability in response to a moderate dose of alcohol among healthy men and women who are current drinkers and aged 65 to 80. It is expected that approximately 75 individuals will complete the study. Participants complete two laboratory sessions. Each session will include consuming a beverage that may or may not include alcohol. If the beverage does include alcohol, the volume will not exceed the amount that a drinker might consume in 1 to 2 drinks. The outcomes will provide information regarding the how older adults vary in their response to alcohol and explore whether alcohol sensitivity is related to selected measures of cognition.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

80

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

  • Name: Sara Jo Nixon, PhD
  • Phone Number: 352-294-4920
  • Email: sjnixon@ufl.edu

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Florida
      • Gainesville, Florida, United States, 32610
        • University of Florida
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Sara Jo Nixon, PhD

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria

  • Alcohol Drinkers who consume alcohol on a regular basis
  • No history of significant substance misuse
  • at least 12 years of education or GED equivalence Exclusion Criteria
  • current Cigarette smoker
  • Type 1 Diabetes or uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes
  • Epilepsy
  • Neurodegenerative disorder
  • Significant psychiatric disorder such as a psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, current major depression or PTSD

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Alcohol Condition
Beverage contains an alcohol volume consistent with achieving a sub-intoxicating breath alcohol concentration
Other: Alcohol (Oral)
Described elsewhere
Placebo Comparator: Non-Alcohol Session
Placebo beverage is administered
Other: Placebo Control
on each of two visits, participants receive either the placebo drink or the drinking containing alcohol

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Alcohol Effects on Psychomotor Skills as reflected in the Trail Making Test (TMT)
Time Frame: The placebo and alcohol sessions occur ~ 10-14 days apart.
Difference between the number of seconds required to complete the TMT under placebo vs the alcohol condition for each individual
The placebo and alcohol sessions occur ~ 10-14 days apart.
Alcohol Effects on a Working Memory Task requiring Continuous Recognition
Time Frame: The placebo and alcohol sessions occur ~ 10-14 days apart.
Differences in accuracy in identifying previously seen vs. new items a working memory task under alcohol vs placebo conditions for each individual
The placebo and alcohol sessions occur ~ 10-14 days apart.
Alcohol Effects on Neural Activity Measured from Scalp Electroencephalography
Time Frame: The alcohol and placebo sessions occur ~ 10-14 days apart.
Differences in neural activity as reflected obtained through non-invasive electroencephalography under alcohol vs placebo conditions for each individual
The alcohol and placebo sessions occur ~ 10-14 days apart.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Correlation between alcohol sensitivity and standard cognitive assessment
Time Frame: The general measure of cognitive abilities is obtained in the first session, prior to the experimental condition. The difference scores are derived by comparing outcomes between alcohol vs placebo sessions which are ~ 10-14 days apart.
Correlations between differences under alcohol vs placebo conditions for the psychomotor task, the working memory task, the measure of neural activity and performance on a general measure of cognitive abilities
The general measure of cognitive abilities is obtained in the first session, prior to the experimental condition. The difference scores are derived by comparing outcomes between alcohol vs placebo sessions which are ~ 10-14 days apart.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Florida

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Ben Lewis, PhD, University of Florida
  • Principal Investigator: Sara Jo Nixon, PhD, University of Florida

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

July 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

June 1, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

June 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 26, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 3, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 9, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 9, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 3, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • IRB202600681

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Data will be made available through an NIH repository.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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