Scientists have obtained independent evidence in older nonalcoholics (over age 50) supporting two of the structure-function models (i.e., the right hemisphere model and the diffuse brain dysfunction model; both are discussed below). These findings of similar cognitive profiles (and changes in brain structure) found both in alcoholics and older nonalcoholics suggest that alcoholism may accelerate normal aging or cause premature aging of the brain. The following sections first explain the premature aging hypothesis, then describe the three structure-function models, examining how they attempt to explain cognitive deficits in alcoholics. Each model also is applied to the premature aging hypothesis to determine whether it supports or opposes the hypothesis.
