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The Significance of Family History Status in Relation to Neuropsychological Test Performance and Cerebral Glucose Metabolism Studied with Positron Emission Tomography in Older Alcoholic Patients
Author(s) -
Adams Kenneth M.,
Gilman Sid,
JohnsonGreene Doug,
Koeppe Robert A.,
Junck Larry,
Kluin Karen J.,
Martorello Susan,
Johnson Michael J.,
Heumann Mary,
Hill Elizabeth
Publication year - 1998
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.1530-0277.1998.tb03622.x
Subject(s) - neuroimaging , neuropsychology , family history , chronic alcoholism , positron emission tomography , psychology , neuropsychological test , medicine , frontal lobe , alcohol dependence , temporal lobe , psychiatry , cognition , neuroscience , alcohol , chemistry , epilepsy , biochemistry
Patients with severe chronic alcoholism have decreased rates of glucose metabolism in the medial frontal lobe and correlated abnormalities of neuropsychological functioning. The potential influence of family history of alcoholism has not been examined in these patients. In a retrospective study, we used neuropsychological tests and neuroimaging employing [ 18 F]fluorodeoxyglucose with positron emission tomography to study 48 older subjects who had histories of severe, chronic alcohol dependence. These patients were divided into two groups: 27 with a first‐degree relative with chronic alcoholism and 21 patients without first‐degree relative with chronic alcoholism. No differences were found between groups on either neuropsychological or neuroimaging tests. These results suggest that a family history of alcoholism does not moderate the damaging effects of severe chronic alcoholism on the functioning of the medial frontal lobe.