Imaging Shows Patterns of Brain Damage in Alcoholics

成像技术的创新有助于酒精研究人员研究酒精如何损害内脏器官，例如大脑和肝脏。研究人员使用计算机断层扫描（CT），磁共振成像（MRI）和扩散张量成像（DTI），寻找慢性饮用的直接影响。

脑收缩和酗酒行为

The shrinkage observed seems to be more extensive in the cortex of the frontal lobe, which is believed to be the seat of higher intellectual functions. This shrinkage generally increases with age, at least in men.

一组酗酒者的反复成像，在五年期间继续饮酒，揭示了逐步脑收缩，显着超过了正常年龄相关的收缩。正面皮质收缩率率与消耗的醇量紧密相关。

But this shrinkage has also been observed in deeper brain regions, including brain structuresassociated with memory以及细胞内，有助于规范协调和平衡。

大脑试图通过激活大脑区域来补偿这些损失，以执行通常由缩小区域完成的任务。与对照受试者相比，功能MRI显示出更多的区域在酒精测试受试者中使用一些区域。这使酗酒者能够保持性能，即使他们的大脑受到酒精伤害。

扭转效果

在酗酒研究中成像的一个关键目标是检测可以与与酒精相关行为相关的特定脑区域的变化。小脑的成像与减少的收缩和降低的血流有关，以减轻平衡和步态。这可能导致跌倒，特别是在较老的酗酒者中。

研究人员不同意这效果脑萎缩has on memory loss and problem-solving skills. Some studies show no effect, while others have reported some loss in those skills associated with alcohol-induced brain shrinkage.

然而，这些效果通常用酒精禁欲反转。

MRI在禁欲期后显示组织体积的一些回收。但是当酗酒返回饮酒时，它们会在脑组织体积进一步降低。

“成像技术的最新进展是允许调查人员学习alcohol dependence。Scientists are beginning to measure alcohol’s effects on mood, emotional states, craving, and cognition while simultaneously assessing metabolic, physiologic, and neurochemical function in the brain," said former NIAAA Director Enoch Gordis, M.D. "These innovations in imaging technology will help not only the alcohol field but also all fields of medicine where biology and behavior are so closely linked."