Effect of chronic alcohol consumption on brain structure in males without a familiar history of alcoholism
The damage to brain structure caused by chronic alcohol consumption has been extensively studied. However, most previous research has not taken into account the presence of family history of alcoholism (FHA), which can change behavior and brain morphology. This variable is a risk factor in the development of this addiction. Because of this, the results of neuroimaging studies with people with alcohol use disorder are relatively inconsistent.
Juan Verdejo Román and Miguel Pérez García, CIMCYC researchers, have collaborated with researchers from the Hospital 12 de Octubre in Madrid, the Camilo José Cela University, the Complutense University of Madrid and the network of addictive disorders of the Carlos III Health Institute, to carry out a study on chronic alcohol consumption in men without FHA.
The main objective of this research was to study gray and white matter volume in male participants with alcohol use disorder without FHA compared to healthy control men without FHA.
For this study, a selection of participants was performed, discarding those with FHA. In this context, there were 19 participants with alcohol use disorder without FHA and 18 healthy control men without FHA.
The main results obtained showed that, relative to the healthy control group, participants with alcohol use disorder without FHA had significantly less gray matter in several brain structures, reflecting the effects of chronic alcohol consumption on brain volume.
The structural integrity of gray matter is relevant for the efficient functioning of low- and high-level cognitive processes used in daily life, and its damage appears to be related to the severity/intensity/chronicity of alcohol use disorder. Therefore, it is relevant to assess and follow brain structural changes throughout the course of dependence.
Contact:
- Juan Verdejo Román: @email
-Miguel Pérez García: mperezg@ugr.es
-Andrés Martínez Maldonado: @email
Full reference:
Martínez-Maldonado, A., Verdejo-Román, J., Sion, A., Rubio, G., Pérez-García, M., & Jurado-Barba, R. (2022). Effect of chronic alcohol consumption on brain structure in males with alcohol use disorder without a familiar history of alcoholism. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 149, 210–216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.03.005