Sex differences in alcohol-related neurobehavioral consequences

Nixon, Sara Jo; Prather, Robert; Lewis, Ben

doi:10.1016/b978-0-444-62619-6.00016-1

Cited by 46 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 150 publications

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“…For example, relative to their pre-alcohol assessments, women have shown greater performance decrements than men on tasks of short-term memory (Niaura, Nathan, Frankenstein, Shapiro, & Brick, 1987) and divided attention (Mumenthaler et al, 1999). Although much of the literature suggests that women may be more susceptible to the effects of acute alcohol relative to men (e.g., Miller et al, 2009), this finding was not supported by the current study (see also Friedman, Robinson, & Yelland, 2011; Nixon, Prather, & Lewis, 2014; Weissenborn & Duka, 2003). Thus, the effects of sex and acute alcohol may differ with age.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 96%

The effects of acute alcohol on psychomotor, set-shifting, and working memory performance in older men and women

Hoffman¹,

Sklar²,

Nixon³

2015

Alcohol

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A limited number of publications have documented the effects of acute alcohol administration among older adults. Among these, only a few have investigated sex differences within this population. The current project examined the behavioral effects of acute low- and moderate-dose alcohol on 62 older (ages 55–70) male and female, healthy, light to moderate drinkers. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three dose conditions: placebo (peak breath alcohol concentration [BrAC] of 0 mg/dL), low (peak BrAC of 40 mg/dL), and moderate (peak BrAC of 65 mg/dL). Tasks assessed psychomotor, set-shifting, and working memory performance. Better set-shifting abilities were observed among women, whereas men demonstrated more efficient working memory, regardless of dose. The moderate-dose group did not significantly differ from the placebo group on any task. However, the low-dose group performed better than the moderate-dose group across measures of set shifting and working memory. Relative to the placebo group, the low-dose group exhibited better working memory, specifically for faces. Interestingly, there were no sex by dose interactions. These data suggest that, at least for our study’s task demands, low and moderate doses of alcohol do not significantly hinder psychomotor, set-shifting, or working memory performance among older adults. In fact, low-dose alcohol may facilitate certain cognitive abilities. Furthermore, although sex differences in cognitive abilities were observed, these alcohol doses did not differentially affect men and women. Further investigation is necessary to better characterize the effects of sex and alcohol dose on cognition in older adults.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 96%

The effects of acute alcohol on psychomotor, set-shifting, and working memory performance in older men and women

Hoffman¹,

Sklar²,

Nixon³

2015

Alcohol

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“…This finding is congruent with previous alcohol use research (see NIAAA, 2016;Wilsnack, Vogeltanz, Wilsnack, & Harris, 2000) as well as CEBRACS research (Rahal at el., 2012). However, men reported greater alcohol frequency and dependence while women reported higher scores on the alcohol problems subscale of the AUDIT which is also congruent with past research (Hoffman, Sklar, & Nixon, 2015;Nixon, Prather, & Lewis, 2014). It was originally hypothesized that women might exhibit more compensatory behaviors in relation to alcohol consumption even if the frequency with which both genders consume alcohol is not significantly different from one another because women have a greater historical prevalence of disordered eating habits when compared to men (see Fattore, Melis, Fadda, & Fratta, 2014 for review).…”

Section: Hypothesissupporting

confidence: 78%

Compensatory Eating Behaviors, Alcohol Consumption and Opioid Use in a Clinical Sample

Diehl¹

2017

IJSSS

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Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of compensatory eating behaviors in relation to alcohol consumption in a clinical sample, to assess the moderating capabilities of opioid use in relation to alcohol use and compensatory behaviors, and to examine the predictive capabilities of gender-specific binge drinking in relation to compensatory behaviors.Methods: The Compensatory Eating Behaviors in Relation to Alcohol Consumption Scale (CEBRACS), an opioid use survey, and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) were administered to residents at an addiction treatment facility (n = 77) over a period of 6 months.Results: Morphine was the only opioid to have significant relationships with the CEBRACS alcohol effects ( r = -.33), diet/exercise (r = -.38), and restrictive eating (r = -.31), subscales (all p < .001), but not with the bulimic subscale. Heroin had the strongest correlations with all other opioids. Opioid use did not have a significant moderating effect between alcohol frequency and the CEBRACS in a single moderating regression analysis (b = .84, t(73) = .43, p = .67). Men (Mdn = 27.00) and women (Mdn = 33.00) did not differ on the CEBRACS, although women ranked higher than men (U = 678.00, z = -.68, ns, r = .08). Binge drinking predicted CEBRACS scores in both males (b = .50, t(38) = 3.59, p < .001) and females (b = .60, t(35) = 4.46, p < .001).Conclusions: Individual dietary habits fluctuate throughout alcohol consumption and the goals of the individual are crucial in discerning specific substance use vs disordered eating motivations.

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“…Due to differences in body mass composition, as well as other still unknown factors, women are more susceptible to the harmful effects of alcohol than men, as reflected by the lower alcohol consumption recommendations for women vs. men provided by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Sex differences in alcohol-induced brain damage and cognitive impairment have rarely been addressed in clinical studies, and a consensus of whether increased damage or dysfunction is observed in women is lacking (reviewed in Nixon et al, 2014). In general, studies suggest that women exhibit brain damage with less total alcohol consumption, or more damage with similar levels of intake than men, though not all studies have observed this phenomenon (Hommer, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Peripheral immune factors are elevated in women with current or recent alcohol dependence and associated with altered mood and memory

Wilhelm

Fuller

Huckans

et al. 2017

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

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Background The adverse effects of alcohol on brain function result, in part, from inflammatory processes. The sex-specific neuropsychiatric consequences and inflammatory status of active alcohol dependence and early remission from dependence have not been investigated. Methods Neuropsychiatric symptoms, inflammatory factors, and liver enzymes were compared in a prospective cohort study of adults with (n = 51) or without (n = 31) a current or recent history of alcohol dependence. Results Neuropsychiatric profiles were similar in adults with current or recent alcohol dependence regardless of sex. In male and female participants measures of depression (female p < 0.05, male p < 0.001), anxiety (female p < 0.001, male p < 0.001), and memory complaints (female p < 0.001, male p < 0.05) were elevated, relative to non-dependent controls. Significant sex × alcohol dependence history interactions were observed for plasma levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), with women in the alcohol dependent group exhibiting increased levels of both analytes (p < 0.05) relative to controls. Positive correlations between TIMP-1 levels and measures of depression (r2 = 0.35, p < 0.01), anxiety (r2 = 0.24, p < 0.05) and memory complaints (r2 = 0.44, p < 0.01) were found in female, but not male, participants. Conclusions Though neuropsychiatric profiles were similar for men and women with current or recent alcohol dependence, plasma factors associated with increases in depression, anxiety, and memory impairment differed and support the need to tailor treatments based on sex.

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Sex differences in alcohol-related neurobehavioral consequences

Cited by 46 publications

References 150 publications

The effects of acute alcohol on psychomotor, set-shifting, and working memory performance in older men and women

The effects of acute alcohol on psychomotor, set-shifting, and working memory performance in older men and women

Compensatory Eating Behaviors, Alcohol Consumption and Opioid Use in a Clinical Sample

Peripheral immune factors are elevated in women with current or recent alcohol dependence and associated with altered mood and memory

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