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Brain Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Studies in Recently Abstinent Alcoholics *
Author(s) -
Martin Peter R.,
Gibbs S. Julian,
Nimmerrichter Amanda A.,
Riddle William R.,
Welch Larry W.,
Willcott M. Robert
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/j.1530-0277.1995.tb00992.x
Subject(s) - abstinence , choline , proton magnetic resonance , dementia , cerebellar vermis , cerebellum , alcohol dependence , magnetic resonance imaging , medicine , psychology , endocrinology , alcohol , chemistry , pathology , nuclear magnetic resonance , psychiatry , disease , biochemistry , radiology , physics
Chronic alcohol‐dependent patients have reduced brain volumes and concomitant neurobehavioral deficits that may recover during abstinence. In 10 chronic alcoholic patients, using localized proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, we found reliable increases during the first 3–4 weeks of abstinence in the concentrations within the superior cerebellar vermis of choline (Cho)‐containing compounds relative to the neuronal marker, N‐acetylaspartate (NAA). Lesser changes were observed following 1 month of abstinence, and in one of the patients studied longitudinally over 3 months, a marked reduction in the Cho/NAA ratio was associated with relapse. After detoxification, the Cho/NAA ratio correlated with a composite clinical impression of brain functions. The lowest Cho/NAA was observed in a patient with persisting alcoholic dementia, in striking contrast to reduced relative concentrations of NAA reported in dementia of the Alzheimer's type. Possible molecular explanations for these brain metabolic changes are discussed.