The Relationship between Cognitive Dysfunction and Brain Damage in Alcoholics: Causal, Interactive, or Epiphenomenal?

Smoking is associated with neurocognitive deficits in alcoholism☆

“…Lifetime alcohol problem severity (as measured by LAPS), was significantly correlated with poorer neurocognitive function, consistent with previous research (Brewer and Perrett, 1971;Butters et al, 1977;Glenn and Parsons, 1992;Knight and Longmore, 1994;Nixon et al, 1995;Parsons and Leber, 1981). However, an important portion of this association, as measured by proficiency, was mediated by concurrent lifetime smoking history.…”

“…Alcohol use disorders entail considerable personal and economic costs (Anthony et al, 1997) and a substantial literature documents neurocognitive deficits in severely and chronically alcoholic men (Brewer and Perrett, 1971;Butters et al, 1977;Knight and Longmore, 1994;Parsons and Leber, 1981). These include difficulties with visual-spatial processing, problem solving, memory, and cognitive proficiency (Ahveninen et al, 2000;Nixon et al, 1995Nixon et al, , 1998.…”

“…Thus it is well established that chronic alcoholism is associated with neurocognitive deficits. However, the specific type and magnitude of the cognitive deficit caused by alcoholism has been difficult for the field to agree upon, resulting in multiple descriptive neuropsychological theories (Gilman et al, 1998;Knight and Longmore, 1994;Oscar-Berman, 2000;Parsons and Farr, 1981;Parsons and Leber, 1981;Sullivan et al, 1993).…”

Readiness to Perform testing: A critical analysis of the concept and current practices.

“…An examination of subscale performance reveals more noticeable differences however. Alcoholics perform less well on many of the performance subtests of the WAIS, as compared to nonalcoholics (Wechsler, 1958; see also Parsons and Leber, 1981). The locus of chronic alcohol influences seems to be centered on problem solving functions.…”

“…Aside from the development of organic brain syndromes in cases of extended alcohol consumption, the effects of chronic alcohol consumption on gross intellectual function, memory, and learning ability appear to be moderate to mild, especially in contrast with the effects of acute episodes (Kleinknecht and Goldstein, 1972;Parsons and Leber, 1981). For example, full-scale IQ does not appear to be dramatically affected as a result of chronic alcoholism unless there is gross organic brain syndrome (Wechsler, 1958;Halpern, 1946;Murphy, 1953;Peters, 1956;Plumeau, Machover, and Puzzo, 1960).…”