significant changes in AD or RD, tends to confirm this interpretation. We also found a significant lateral asymmetry in putamen apparent FA which, if replicated in independent studies, could indicate higher iron concentration on the left. Additionally, we also found higher apparent FA in the left thalamus. Although the specific mechanism causing apparent increase in FA in the thalamus remains unclear, there are reports of unilateral temporary increase of FA in the thalamus contralateral to the affected body side during extremity pain episodes in MS (Deppe et al., 2013). Also, FA in thalamus is an independent predictor of White Matter Hyperintensities (WMH) accrual over a 4-year period in community dwelling older subjects (Cavallari et al., 2014). Research also suggests GM microstructure aberrations measured as apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) in parahippocampal regions, frontal cortex, and left temporal cortex as responsible, at least partially, for episodic memory deficits in AUD (Chanraud et al., 2009). Therefore, considering volumetric shrinkage (Zahr and Pfefferbaum, 2017), microstructural aberrations and their relation to lower GM volume in AUD (Chanraud et al., 2009), the importance of thalamic structures for cognitive functions (see for a review Fama and Sullivan, 2015), and in light of aforementioned findings, it is important
