title: Normal cognitive performance in patients with chronic alcoholism in contrast to patients with Korsakoff's syndrome.
abstract: This study investigated which cognitive deficits are associated with chronic alcoholism. Neuropsychological profiles and MRI brain structure volumes of 14 patients with Korsakoff's syndrome, 15 patients with chronic alcoholism, and 16 healthy control subjects were compared. The patients with alcoholism had a normal cognitive performance and normal brain structure volumes. The patients with Korsakoff's syndrome had performance deficits on tests of memory, visuoperceptual, and executive functions, as well as reduced brain structure volumes. The results suggest that the cognitive deficits cannot be ascribed to mere chronic consumption of alcohol. If cognitive deficits are present in patients with chronic alcoholism, this may point to an underlying brain disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University and Psychomedical Center Vijverdal, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Krabbendam
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Derix
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Verhey
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hofman
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Verhoeven
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tuinier
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jolles
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D001284:Atrophy; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000473:pathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D020915:Korsakoff Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012016:Reference Values