Continuum versus Premature Aging Theories of Chronic Alcoholism

Abstract
An attempt is made to differentiate, both theoretically and experimentally, the continuum theory from the premature aging theory of the chronic effects of alcohol on verbal information processing. The continuum model necessitates a demonstration of differential pattern of performance between alcoholics and normals in as much as alcoholic Korsakoff patients (at 1 end of the continuum) do demonstrate such patterns. Premature aging theories need to demonstrate only subnormal performance by alcoholics relative to their contemporaries. Two experiments designed to assess these theories provided some evidence for premature aging but none for the continuum theory.