“…In alcoholism uncomplicated by WE, MRS provides evidence for abnormally low peaks of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), a marker for mature viable neurons, or choline (Cho), an index of membrane turnover, in frontal, parietal, or cerebellar regions within a month of withdrawal (Durazzo et al, 2004;Fein et al, 1994;Jagannathan et al, 1996;Schweinsburg et al, 2003Schweinsburg et al, , 2001Seitz et al, 1999) followed by improvement in NAA or Cho, suggesting neuronal recovery (Bendszus et al, 2001;Ende et al, 2005;Martin et al, 1995;Parks et al, 2002). In WE, whether preceded by alcoholism or other precipitating condition, an early deficit in NAA can improve, more so in the thalamus than cerebellum (Murata et al, 2001), a recovery pattern noted earlier by Victor et al (1971Victor et al ( , 1989.…”