Brain atrophy and neuropsychological impairment in young alcoholics.

Abstract

Alcoholics (30, aged 20-45 yr) were evaluated with computerized tomography (CT) and neuropsychological tests. A significant correlation was found between some CT measures of brain atrophy and the results of 2 neuropsychological tests. Performance on 1 test alone (Digit Symbol) permitted the correct prediction of cortical atrophy in 80% of the subjects. A significant correlation between age and sulcal enlargement was found, which in this young age group lends support to the hypothesis that the effects of aging may be seen earlier in alcoholics. In a subgroup with normal premorbid IQ, 53% of the variation in sulcal measurements could be predicted with a stepwise multiple regression.