A new study of adults treated for alcohol use disorder has found that those who reduce their drinking, or quit entirely, exhibit greater brain volume in specific regions compared to those who continue to drink heavily.
The study, published in Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research, sheds light on the potential benefits of reducing alcohol consumption, even if not completely abstaining, in individuals with alcohol use disorder.
This approach may confer brain structural and mental health advantages and could be a more realistic goal for some individuals with this condition.
Methodology
The research utilized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess the cortex’s volume in various brain regions of individuals with alcohol use disorder.
Participants had received treatment for their condition and were subsequently categorized into three groups: those who abstained from alcohol, those who resumed drinking at low-risk levels (approximately three drinks per day for males and 1.5 drinks per day for females), and those who resumed drinking at higher-risk levels (an average of five or more drinks per day).
The MRI scans were conducted approximately eight months after treatment.
Key Findings
The study revealed significant differences in brain volumes across the cortex among the three groups of participants.
Specifically, individuals who resumed drinking at higher-risk levels exhibited less cortical volume in 12 of 13 brain regions compared to a control group of individuals without alcohol use disorder who were light drinkers or nondrinkers.
Those who resumed drinking at low-risk levels showed less cortical volume in nine of the 13 regions, while abstainers exhibited reduced cortical volume in six regions.
The brain regions affected included several frontal areas that play crucial roles in decision-making, self-monitoring, behavioral control, and higher-order cognitive functions such as emotion regulation, working memory, and executive functioning.
Less volume in these regions may indicate a reduced capacity to perform these cognitive and emotional tasks.
Implications
Previous research has suggested that reducing alcohol consumption, even if not achieving complete abstinence, can lead to improved mental health, physical health, quality of life, brain structure, and neurocognition.
The findings of this study reinforce the potential benefits of reducing alcohol consumption on brain health.
The study’s authors recommend that both researchers and healthcare providers consider reduced drinking as a viable outcome for individuals with alcohol use disorder, alongside complete abstinence.
This approach may offer a more achievable goal for some individuals and still contribute to better brain structural outcomes and overall well-being.
Limitations
The study acknowledges several limitations, including its modest sample size, particularly in the category of heavy drinkers, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Additionally, the study primarily involved Armed Service Veterans, which may not fully represent the broader population.
Future research could explore whether the differences in cortical volume correspond to variations in participants’ quality of life and functioning.
Despite these limitations, the study underscores the potential advantages of reducing alcohol consumption in individuals with alcohol use disorder.
If you care about blood sugar, please read studies about why blood sugar is high in the morning, and how to cook sweet potatoes without increasing blood sugar.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about 9 unhealthy habits that damage your brain, and results showing this stuff in cannabis may protect aging brain, treat Alzheimer’s.
The research findings can be found in Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research.
Follow us on Twitter for more articles about this topic.
Copyright © 2023 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
