MRS studies suggest that NAA (e.g., Bartsch et al. 2007; Bendszus et al. 2001; Parks et al. 2002), particularly in frontal (Bartsch et al. 2007; Bendszus et al. 2001; Durazzo et al. 2006) and cerebellar (Bendszus et al. 2001; Fein et al. 1994; Parks et al. 2002) regions and Cho levels (e.g., Bartsch et al. 2007; Bendszus et al. 2001; Durazzo et al. 2006; Ende et al. 2005; Martin et al. 1995) show normalization (i.e., increase) with abstinence. Elevations in mI are not seen in long-term sober alcoholics (Schweinsburg et al. 2000). These findings suggest that low NAA levels initially observed in recently sober alcoholics reflect neurodegeneration without cell death, and increases with abstinence may reflect healing without cell generation. The disruption and recovery of Cho and mI levels suggest white-matter recovery with sobriety and the potential for remyelination.
