cqvip:Objective: Diffuse brain white matter atrophy is often seen in chronic alcohol ics, but its relation with cognitive impairment remains to be solved. In order t o address this issue, in alcoholics with cognitive impairment at different level s, we studied relations of the central sensory conduction time (CSCT)or brain ma gnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings with the cognitive function. Methods: Su bjects were 35 alcoholics with mild cognitive impairment (mini-mental state exa mination score, MMSE,≥24; mean±SD, 27.7±1.9), 12 with moderate to severe cogn itive impairment (MMSE < 24; 20.3±2.7), 15 with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) (MMSE , 18.9±4.3) (disease control)and 20 healthy volunteers (MMSE, 28.5±1.6) (norma l control). Median nerve SEPs were recorded in the all subjects,and the latencie s and amplitudes of their N9, N11, P13/14, N20 and P25 components were measured. The ventri culocranial ratio (VCR) and the width of cortical sulci were measure d on MRIs. These physiological parameters and MRI findings were compared between the 4 groups of the subject, and correlations between those all features were a lso analyzed. Results: CSCT and VCR were significantly greater in alcoholics wit h moderate to severe cognitive impairment than those in the other 3 groups. Pear son’s product-moment correlation analyses of the alcoholics disclosed that bot h the CSCT and VCR had significant negative correlations with the MMSE score. Mo reover, the CSCT and VCR were positively correlated. Conclusions: Both physiolog ical and morphological estimates of the white matter function (CSCT and VCR) had a significant correlation with the cognitive dysfunction. Significance: The dif fuse white matter atrophy may be one of the factors causing cognitive impairment in chronic alcoholics.
展开▼
