An interventional study of Alcohol (Oral) and Placebo Control in Healthy Adult Participants, sponsored by University of Florida. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 65 Years to 80 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-30.
Sponsored by University of Florida · Not applicable, Interventional, and Basic science
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.
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.
Inclusion Criteria
Beverage contains an alcohol volume consistent with achieving a sub-intoxicating breath alcohol concentration
Other: Alcohol (Oral)
Placebo beverage is administered
Other: Placebo Control
Described elsewhere
on each of two visits, participants receive either the placebo drink or the drinking containing alcohol
Alcohol Effects on Psychomotor Skills as reflected in the Trail Making Test (TMT)
Difference between the number of seconds required to complete the TMT under placebo vs the alcohol condition for each individual
Time frame: The placebo and alcohol sessions occur ~ 10-14 days apart.
Alcohol Effects on a Working Memory Task requiring Continuous Recognition
Differences in accuracy in identifying previously seen vs. new items a working memory task under alcohol vs placebo conditions for each individual
Time frame: The placebo and alcohol sessions occur ~ 10-14 days apart.
Alcohol Effects on Neural Activity Measured from Scalp Electroencephalography
Differences in neural activity as reflected obtained through non-invasive electroencephalography under alcohol vs placebo conditions for each individual
Time frame: The alcohol and placebo sessions occur ~ 10-14 days apart.
Correlation between alcohol sensitivity and standard cognitive assessment
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
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.
Plan to share: No — Data will be made available through an NIH repository.
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University of Florida