Volume of hippocampal subfields in patients with alcohol dependence.
Alcohol-induced hippocampal atrophy has been well documented in many studies and is known to affect various subfields. Given the functional heterogeneity of these subfields, we investigated the precise effects of alcohol-induced damage in these areas. Twenty-six male patients with alcohol dependence (alcohol group) and twenty-six age-matched male healthy social drinkers were recruited from a mental health hospital and the community respectively, with the aim of comparing the hippocampal subfields between groups. Each participant underwent a 3T MRI scan. Hippocampal subfield volumes were estimated using an automated procedure and drinking history recorded using Lifetime Drinking History, Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test, and the Brief Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test. The alcohol group showed a lower total hippocampus volume, specifically in the left presubiculum, fimbria, and bilateral subiculum. Regression analysis assessing the influence of age and group showed that group was a more significant factor than age in most subfields. Our findings suggest that alcohol dependence alters hippocampal subfield volumes. Further longitudinal studies on the interaction of structural and neurocognitive changes would improve our understanding of brain structural changes resulting from long-term alcohol consumption.
Department of Psychiatry, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, South Korea.
Jeonghwan
J
Lee
Yemidam Hospital, Cheongju, South Korea.
Sung-Jin
SJ
Im
Yesarang Hospital, Cheongju, South Korea.
Sang-Gu
SG
Lee
Department of Anatomy, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, South Korea.
Alfreda
A
Stadlin
Department of Psychiatry, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, South Korea.
Jung-Woo
JW
Son
Department of Psychiatry, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, South Korea.
Chul-Jin
CJ
Shin
Department of Psychiatry, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, South Korea.
Gawon
G
Ju
Department of Psychiatry, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, South Korea.
Sang-Ick
SI
Lee
Department of Psychiatry, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, South Korea. Electronic address: poshong@chungbuk.ac.kr.
Siekyeong
S
Kim
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D001284:Atrophy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology
Alcohol dependence; FreeSurfer; Hippocampal subfields; Hippocampus