Cerebral dysfunction in alcoholism and presenile dementia.

Abstract

Chronic alcoholics (15) and 15 presenile patients were matched in pairs with regard to their mean hemisphere cerebral blood parameters, an index of brain metabolism. The distribution of the regional cerebral blood flow was similar in the 2 groups. The alcoholics performed significantly better in all psychometric tests than the presenile patients and more alcoholics than presenile patients were still employed and working. Nine presenile patients and 1 alcoholic showed symptoms indicating brain stem dysfunction. The measurements of the cerebral blood flow were made at rest while the psychometric testings and the evaluation of the social performance gave information about the brain at work. Cerebral dysfunction in alcoholics to some extent could be partly overcome by brain activation procedures. The defects of higher mental functions in presenile dementia could not be compensated for.