A group at the University of Wurzburg, Germany, and their European colleagues have recently demonstrated moderate reversal of some brain changes due to chronic alcohol abuse. The test subjects included 15 detoxified alcoholics who had been sober for at least 6 weeks. The researchers measured changes in brain volume, neurotransmitter metabolism, and performance on neuropsychological tests. The subjects showed improvement in all three parameters between the time of enrollment in the study and at follow-up. Improvement has been noted to predominantly affect certain regions of the brain. A control group of 10 healthy volunteers did not demonstrate a similar change.
It is worthwhile to note that the test subjects were chosen from an original cohort of 24 alcohol-dependent patients. Some exclusion criteria included concomitant nicotine abuse, alcohol withdrawal, Wernicke-Korsakoff encephalopathy, hepatic disease, or other related disorders. While the data are reassuring for short-term neurologic recovery from alcoholism, we cannot disregard the irreversible effects of chronic alcohol abuse. We do not know whether abuse of additional substances may synergistically cause irreparable damage to the brain. The potential permanency of alcohol-induced Korsakoff’s syndrome has yet to be disproven. Moreover, non-neurologic organ damage (e.g., the liver) may show little to no improvement with abstinence after enough damage has occurred. In any case, the study reaffirms the regenerative capabilities of the brain. These findings prompt further research into brain recovery with hopes for future therapies benefiting patients with brain tumors, head trauma, and chemical toxicity.
- Source
- Bartsch AJ, Homola G, Biller A, Smith SM, Weijers HG, Wiesbeck GA, Jenkinson M, De Stefano N, Solymosi L, Bendszus M. Manifestations of early brain recovery associated with abstinence from alcoholism. Brain 2007;130:36-47.
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