Hypoperfusion of
inferior frontal brain regions in abstinent
alcoholics
: a pilot SPECT
study.
METHOD:
The participants (N = 22) were 10 healthy, abstinent alcoholics
(9 men) and 12 age-equivalent nonalcoholic controls (10 men).
Cerebral blood flow was observed through the use of regionally
specific computer-derived quantitative analysis of single photon
emission computed tomography (SPECT) perfusion images. Measures
of alcohol use, abstinence and neuropsychological functioning
were also obtained to relate to SPECT findings.
RESULTS:
A positive relationship was observed between perfusion levels in
the left inferior frontal brain region and years of sobriety.
Alcoholics with less than 4 years of sobriety had significantly
reduced left inferior frontal perfusion compared with both
nonalcoholic controls and alcoholics having longer periods of
sobriety.
CONCLUSIONS:
The findings support the hypothesis that frontal brain
abnormalities in alcoholics may subside with extended
abstinence.
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