Executive Functions, Memory, and Social Cognitive Deficits and Recovery in Chronic Alcoholism: A Critical Review to Inform Future Research

Abstract

Alcoholism is a complex and dynamic disease, punctuated by periods of abstinence and relapse, and influenced by a multitude of vulnerability factors. Chronic excessive alcohol consumption is associated with cognitive deficits, ranging from mild to severe, in executive functions, memory, and metacognitive abilities, with associated impairment in emotional processes and social cognition. These deficits can compromise efforts in initiating and sustaining abstinence by hampering efficacy of clinical treatment and can obstruct efforts in enabling good decision-making, success in interpersonal/social interactions, and awareness of cognitive and behavioral dysfunctions. Despite evidence for differences in recovery levels of selective cognitive processes, certain deficits can persist even with prolonged sobriety. Herein is presented a review of alcohol-related cognitive impairments affecting component processes of executive functioning, memory, and the recently investigated cognitive domains of metamemory, social cognition, and emotional processing; also considered are trajectories of cognitive recovery with abstinence. Finally, in the spirit of critical review, limitations of current knowledge are noted and avenues for new research efforts are proposed that focus on (1) the interaction among emotion-cognition processes and identification of vulnerability factors contributing to the development of emotional and social processing deficits and (2) the time line of cognitive recovery by tracking alcoholism’s dynamic course of sobriety and relapse. Knowledge about the heterochronicity of cognitive recovery in alcoholism has the potential of indicating at which points during recovery intervention may be most beneficial.

Experimental Effects of Exercise on Forgetting

“…Additionally, and similar to other studies [33][34][35][36], participants were excluded if they: Self-reported as a daily smoker [37,38] Self-reported being pregnant [39] Exercised within 5 hours of testing [40] Consumed caffeine within 3 hours of testing [41] Had a concussion or head trauma within the past 30 days [42] Took marijuana or other illegal drugs within the past 30 days [43] Were considered a daily alcohol user (>30 drinks/month for women; >60 drinks/month for men) [44]…”

Random Forest Classification of Alcohol Use Disorder Using EEG Source Functional Connectivity, Neuropsychological Functioning, and Impulsivity Measures

“…The backward condition of the VST taps both immediate visual memory and components of visuospatial working memory [149]. Therefore, lower scores in forward and backward span in AUD group indicate deficits in memory storage capacity as well as visual working memory, which are possibly resulting from chronic drinking in AUD individuals [11]. Interestingly, poor memory performance (low score on forward memory span) was associated with hyperconnectivity in three delta and alpha band connections, where AUD group showed both hyperconnectivity and poor memory performance.…”

“…These findings highlighted the intricate associations among neurocognitive performance, neural connectivity, and consistent impairments in AUD. While studies have shown that AUD individuals manifest impairments in multiple domains [63,64,[150][151][152][153] and some of these deficits can persist even after prolonged abstinence [11], it was surprising to find that AUD individuals did not manifest significant deficits in TOLT, which measures executive functioning such as planning and problem solving [68]. Interestingly, in our previous study with the same groups of subjects, we reported that that lower volumes in prefrontal cortex and left hippocampus observed in AUD group were associated with poorer visuospatial memory performance [16].…”

Neuropsychological impairment associated with substance use by physicians

“…Neurocognitive effects of alcohol use have been well-studied and reviewed in depth elsewhere [40]. Briefly, alcohol use is associated with numerous cognitive deficits, which can hinder the impact of treatment efforts.…”