Heavy alcohol consumption has been known to be associated with neuronal loss, brain atrophy and poorer white matter fiber integrity. However, there has been conflicting evidence about whether this relationship holds for light-moderate alcohol consumption. In a recent study, conducted by Daviet and colleagues, associations between alcohol intake and brain macrostructure and microstructure were examined using multimodal imaging data from 36,678 healthy middle-aged and older adults from the UK Biobank. The results demonstrated that alcohol intake was negatively correlated with global brain volume measures, white matter microstructure, and regional gray matter volumes. In individuals who consumed as little as one-two daily units of alcohol, negative associations were observed between alcohol intake and brain macrostructure and microstructure, and this relationship became stronger as alcohol intake increased. The study highlights the potential for even moderate drinking to be associated with brain volume alterations in middle-aged and older adults.
Reference: Daviet et al. Nature Communications 2022;13:1175. Abstract
April is Alcohol Awareness Month and is meant to spread awareness and education about alcohol dependence and alcohol use disorder (AUD). Alcohol is the most used and abused substance in the United States by far. Below are educational resources on how to manage patients with alcohol use disorder:
This Month In Psychopharmacology The Impact of Alcohol and Other Substance Use Disorders on Mortality in Patients With Eating Disorders
Encore Presentation My Cup Runneth Over: Identifying and Treating Alcohol Use Disorder CME/CE Credit: 1.0 | Expires: November 8, 2023
NEI Podcast Episode 100 - The PsychopharmaStahlogy Show: Forgetting to Be Addicted: Altering Compulsivity in the Addiction Process
Encore Presentation Rising Above: Advancements in the Management of Substance Use Disorders CME/CE Credit: 0.75 | Expires: June 26, 2024
Case Studies 47-Year-Old Man with Bipolar II Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder CME/CE credits: 0.5 | Expires: August 17, 2024
Patient Education Diaries: Alcohol Diary
Teaching Slides Substance Use: Alcohol Use Disorder
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