Alcohol-Related Cognitive Impairments: An Overview of How Alcoholism May Affect the Workings of the Brain.
paper
Cited
Public
- Authors
- Evert, Denise L; Oscar-Berman, Marlene
- Year
- 1995
- Journal
- Alcohol health and research world
- PMID
- 31798082
- PMCID
- PMC6875727
People with alcoholism express cognitive deficits of varying type and severity. Theoretical models of impaired cognition are intended to explain the deficit patterns by relating them to the brain structures or brain processes that may be damaged. Although no model has thus far succeeded in defining adequately all the impairments alcoholics experience, process-oriented models are proving useful as tools for describing alcohol-related cognitive deficits.
Examples from a commonly used IQ test (WAIS–R) assessing visuospatial abilities (the ability to deal with objects in three-dimensional space). All three subtests are timed, and subjects are asked to work as quickly as they can.
| # | Section | Preview |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Theoretical Models of Cognitive Impairment — Interplay Between Brain Structure and Function — Right Hemisphere Model | In most people, the brain’s functions are organized asymmetrically: The left hemisphere is… |
| 21 | Theoretical Models of Cognitive Impairment — Interplay Between Brain Structure and Function — Right Hemisphere Model | Researchers have hypothesized that right-brain functions are more vulnerable to alcoholism’s… |
| 22 | Theoretical Models of Cognitive Impairment — Interplay Between Brain Structure and Function — Right Hemisphere Model | In studies applying the right hemisphere model to premature aging, older nonalcoholics have… |
| 23 | Theoretical Models of Cognitive Impairment — Interplay Between Brain Structure and Function — Right Hemisphere Model | In examining the right hemisphere model, Ellis (1990) found that older alcoholics performed… |
| 24 | Theoretical Models of Cognitive Impairment — Interplay Between Brain Structure and Function — Right Hemisphere Model | Although the right hemisphere model is supported by research as it relates to alcoholism and to… |
| 25 | Theoretical Models of Cognitive Impairment — Interplay Between Brain Structure and Function — Right Hemisphere Model | For example, both alcoholic subjects and elderly control subjects, despite differences in cognitive… |
| 26 | Theoretical Models of Cognitive Impairment — Interplay Between Brain Structure and Function — Diffuse Brain Dysfunction Model | According to this view, researchers propose that chronic alcoholism results in global cognitive… |
| 27 | Theoretical Models of Cognitive Impairment — Interplay Between Brain Structure and Function — Diffuse Brain Dysfunction Model | Looking more closely at this model, deficits in some cognitive functions may result from task… |
| 28 | Theoretical Models of Cognitive Impairment — Interplay Between Brain Structure and Function — Diffuse Brain Dysfunction Model | Because deficit patterns in chronic alcoholics have been shown to mimic some cognitive changes in… |
| 29 | Theoretical Models of Cognitive Impairment — Interplay Between Brain Structure and Function — Frontal Lobe System Dysfunction Model | The last model based on examining the relationship between brain structure and cognitive function… |
| 30 | Theoretical Models of Cognitive Impairment — Interplay Between Brain Structure and Function — Frontal Lobe System Dysfunction Model | Alcoholics and patients with frontal lobe system damage resulting from causes other than alcohol… |
| 31 | Theoretical Models of Cognitive Impairment — Interplay Between Brain Structure and Function — Frontal Lobe System Dysfunction Model | Researchers also have found supporting evidence for the frontal system model from studies in which… |
| 32 | Theoretical Models of Cognitive Impairment — Interplay Between Brain Structure and Function — Frontal Lobe System Dysfunction Model | the reward is within the subject’s reach, and the subject must choose which board covers the… |
| 33 | Theoretical Models of Cognitive Impairment — Interplay Between Brain Structure and Function — Frontal Lobe System Dysfunction Model | Two large subdivisions of prefrontal cortex are considered important in normal DR and DA… |
| 34 | Theoretical Models of Cognitive Impairment — Interplay Between Brain Structure and Function — Frontal Lobe System Dysfunction Model | One study used a task assessing DR performance in both the visual and auditory sensory modalities in… |
| 35 | Theoretical Models of Cognitive Impairment — Interplay Between Brain Structure and Function — Frontal Lobe System Dysfunction Model | When applying this model to the premature aging hypothesis, no similar patterns of cognitive change… |
| 36 | Theoretical Models of Cognitive Impairment — The Process-Oriented Approach | An alternative way of viewing the effects of alcoholism on cognitive functioning from the… |
| 37 | Theoretical Models of Cognitive Impairment — The Process-Oriented Approach | Within the domain of memory functioning, researchers have used this approach by defining different… |
| 38 | Theoretical Models of Cognitive Impairment — The Process-Oriented Approach | The process-oriented approach also has been used to examine a broad range of cognitive functions in… |
| 39 | Theoretical Models of Cognitive Impairment — The Process-Oriented Approach | Within each store, the three component processes may operate: “availability” refers to the… |
| Name | Type |
|---|---|
| Abnormal perseverative responding local | phenotype |
| abstainers | phenotype |
| abstinence | phenotype |
| abstraction | phenotype |
| Abstraction ability local | phenotype |
| Accelerated aging hypothesis local | phenotype |
| Accelerated aging version local | phenotype |
| access impairment local | phenotype |
| Age-related cognitive changes local | phenotype |
| aging | phenotype |
| alcohol | phenotype |
| alcohol abuse | phenotype |
| alcoholic Korsakoff patients local | cohort |
| Alcoholic Korsakoff patients local | cohort |
| Alcoholic Korsakoff's syndrome local | phenotype |
| Alcoholic Korsakoff’s syndrome local | phenotype |
| Alcoholic Korsakoff syndrome local | phenotype |
| Alcoholics with Korsakoff’s syndrome local | phenotype |
| Alcoholics with Korsakoff syndrome local | cohort |
| Alcoholics with memory problems local | phenotype |
| Alcoholics without memory problems local | phenotype |
| alcohol-induced deficits local | phenotype |
| alcoholism | phenotype |
| alcohol-related brain damage | phenotype |
| Alcohol-related cognitive impairment local | phenotype |
| alcohol sensitivity | phenotype |
| Alcohol toxicity | phenotype |
| Alcohol Use Disorder | phenotype |
| Anterograde amnesia | phenotype |
| availability deficit local | phenotype |
| Availability deficit local | phenotype |
| Basal forebrain atrophy local | phenotype |
| brain | anatomy |
| Brain atrophy | phenotype |
| brain damage | phenotype |
| Brain shrinkage | phenotype |
| brain structure | anatomy |
| Brain tissue loss | phenotype |
| Cerebral cortex shrinkage local | phenotype |
| cerebral hemispheres | anatomy |
| chronic alcoholism | phenotype |
| cognition | phenotype |
| cognitive change local | phenotype |
| Cognitive changes | phenotype |
| cognitive decline | phenotype |
| Cognitive impairments in memory local | phenotype |
| cognitive processes | phenotype |
| control group | cohort |
| controls | cohort |
| control subjects | cohort |
| cortex | anatomy |
| Cortical shrinkage | phenotype |
| DA performance local | phenotype |
| declarative memory local | phenotype |
| Deep brain structures | anatomy |
| Deficit patterns local | phenotype |
| Deficits in abstraction and problem-solving local | phenotype |
| Deficits on DR performance local | phenotype |
| delayed alternation local | phenotype |
| diencephalon | anatomy |
| Diencephalon damage local | phenotype |
| Difficulty in learning new material local | phenotype |
| Diffuse brain damage local | phenotype |
| diffuse brain dysfunction local | phenotype |
| Diffuse Brain Dysfunction local | anatomy |
| Diffuse Brain Dysfunction local | phenotype |
| Diffuse brain dysfunction model local | phenotype |
| dorsolateral prefrontal system local | anatomy |
| DR performance local | phenotype |
| efficiency deficit local | phenotype |
| Efficiency impairment local | phenotype |
| Elderly control subjects local | cohort |
| Ellis (1990) local | cohort |
| episodic memory | phenotype |
| First-time psychiatric clinic patients local | cohort |
| forebrain | anatomy |
| Frontal brain system local | anatomy |
| frontal cortex | anatomy |
| frontal lobe system dysfunction local | phenotype |
| Frontal system local | anatomy |
| Frontal system brain damage local | phenotype |
| Functional deterioration local | phenotype |
| global cognitive dysfunction local | phenotype |
| healthy | phenotype |
| heavy drinking | phenotype |
| human | cohort |
| impulse control | phenotype |
| Increased vulnerability version local | phenotype |
| Insight local | phenotype |
| IQ performance subscales local | phenotype |
| Knowledge-information store efficiency local | phenotype |
| Korsakoff’s syndrome | phenotype |
| Korsakoff state local | phenotype |
| Korsakoff syndrome | phenotype |
| Language-related functions local | phenotype |
| Laterality tasks | phenotype |
| Little evidence of frontal damage local | phenotype |
| Long-term Chronic Alcoholics local | cohort |
| long-term memory | phenotype |
| memory | phenotype |
| memory problems | phenotype |
| monkeys | cohort |
| Non-alcoholic Brain Damage local | phenotype |
| nonalcoholic control subjects | cohort |
| nonalcoholic patients local | cohort |
| Non-alcoholic peers local | cohort |
| Nonalcoholics | cohort |
| non-drinkers | phenotype |
| non-Korsakoff alcoholics local | cohort |
| Non-Korsakoff alcoholics local | cohort |
| nonverbal cognitive deficits local | phenotype |
| Nonverbal skills local | phenotype |
| Nonverbal Tasks local | phenotype |
| normal aging | phenotype |
| Normal asymmetrical brain function local | phenotype |
| Normal control subjects local | cohort |
| Older alcohol abusers local | cohort |
| older alcoholics | phenotype |
| older nonalcoholic populations local | cohort |
| older nonalcoholics local | cohort |
| Older nonalcoholics local | cohort |
| Older Nonalcoholics local | cohort |
| orbitofrontal system local | anatomy |
| Orbitofrontal system local | anatomy |
| Organizing local | phenotype |
| Overall intelligence local | phenotype |
| Patients with frontal lobe system damage local | cohort |
| Personality changes | phenotype |
| planning | phenotype |
| Plant food local | drug |
| prefrontal cortex | anatomy |
| Prefrontal cortical structural change local | phenotype |
| premature aging | phenotype |
| Premature brain aging local | phenotype |
| Problem-solving local | phenotype |
| procedural memory local | phenotype |
| psychological function | phenotype |
| Right hemisphere model local | phenotype |
| semantic memory | phenotype |
| short-term memory | phenotype |
| Slowed processing of information local | phenotype |
| Social drinkers | phenotype |
| structural abnormalities | anatomy |
| subcortical regions | anatomy |
| subjects | cohort |
| Test performance local | phenotype |
| thiamine | drug |
| thiamine deficiency | drug |
| Thiamine metabolism disorder local | phenotype |
| Tissue loss local | phenotype |
| Unhealthy local | phenotype |
| verbal cognitive deficits local | phenotype |
| Verbal Tasks local | phenotype |
| Visuospatial deficits | phenotype |
| water | drug |
| Young alcoholics | phenotype |
| younger alcoholics local | cohort |
| Younger alcoholics local | cohort |
No uploaded files.
Not in any collection.
In this knowledge base
External
| Title | Authors | Journal | Year | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community perceptions and barriers to brain health and dementia care in rural communities in Cameroon: a qualitative study. | Njohjam MN et al. | — | 2026 | → |
| Effects of legal-market cannabis and alcohol on verbal learning and memory. | Gowin JL et al. | — | 2026 | → |
| Examining pharmacological and demographic factors among male and female alzheimer's disease patients diagnosed with attention concentration disorder and cognitive communication disorder. | Desai A et al. | — | 2026 | → |
| Shared signatures of alcohol-associated dysbiosis in humans and non-human primates. | Chen T et al. | — | 2026 | → |
| Temporal Association Between Reported Use of Psychoactive Substances and Cognitive Function in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis. | Kim J et al. | — | 2026 | → |
| A retrospective review of the circumstances and characteristics of 72 adult autoerotic neck compression deaths in Australia, between 2000 and 2022. | Mullin SP et al. | — | 2025 | → |
| Assessment of cognitive functions in patients with alcohol dependence disorder and its implications for primary care: A cross-sectional study. | Shah K et al. | — | 2025 | → |
| Hepatotoxicity in spaceflight: intrinsic and extrinsic risks for astronaut metabolic health. | Waisberg E et al. | — | 2025 | → |
| Hitting Two Birds With One Stone: Dual Modulation of Brain Carbonic Anhydrases and Histone Deacetylases Boosts Memory Consolidation. | Costa A et al. | — | 2025 | → |
| Mediterranean and standard American diet consumption in psychosis and non-psychosis affective disorders groups: Symptoms and cognition. | Koralnik LR et al. | — | 2025 | → |
| Protective Effects of Fish Oil Against Brain Impairment in Rats with Chronic Ethanol-Induced Liver Damage Involving the NRF2 Pathway and Oxidative Stress. | Xiao Q et al. | — | 2025 | → |
| The null effect of stress on cognitive flexibility in individuals with and without alcohol use disorder. | Grodin EN et al. | — | 2025 | → |
| Unraveling the Link Between Trauma and Problematic Alcohol Use Over Time: The Influence of Executive Function and Social Cognition Deficits. | Lu YY et al. | — | 2025 | → |
| A Brief Alcohol Intervention (BAI) to reduce alcohol use and improve PrEP outcomes among men who have sex with men in Vietnam: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. | Bui HTM et al. | — | 2024 | → |
| Alcohol-related cognitive impairments in patients with and without cirrhosis. | Angerville B et al. | — | 2024 | → |
| Boosting Brain Health: Interventions for the Prevention and Treatment of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Early Neurodegenerative Disease. | Bushnell ML et al. | — | 2024 | → |
| Neurocognitive Markers during Maximum Alcohol Use in Late Adolescence as Predictors of Change in Later Drinking Behaviors. | Ferdous N et al. | — | 2024 | → |
| Potentiation of the depressant effect of alcohol by flunitrazepam in rats: an electrocorticographic, respiratory and electrocardiographic study. | Freitas L et al. | — | 2024 | → |
| Prediction of brain age in individuals with and at risk for alcohol use disorder using brain morphological features | Kamarajan C et al. | — | 2024 | — |
| The impact of abstinence from chronic alcohol consumption on the mouse striatal proteome: sex and subregion-specific differences. | Duffus BM et al. | — | 2024 | → |
| Analysis of Electric Vehicle Collisions in the United States: An Epidemiological Study. | Alter N et al. | — | 2023 | → |
| Predicting Alcohol-Related Memory Problems in Older Adults: A Machine Learning Study with Multi-Domain Features. | Kamarajan C et al. | — | 2023 | → |
| Risky Decision-Making in Adults with Alcohol Use Disorder-A Systematic and Meta-Analytic Review. | Ariesen AD et al. | — | 2023 | → |
| Thirty Risk Factors for Alzheimer's Disease Unified by a Common Neuroimmune-Neuroinflammation Mechanism. | Weaver DF | — | 2023 | → |
| Addiction among women and sexual minority groups. | Ait-Daoud N et al. | — | 2020 | → |
| Cognitive impairment and its risk factors among Myanmar elderly using the Revised Hasegawa's Dementia Scale: A cross-sectional study in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. | Saw YM et al. | — | 2020 | → |
| Women and Addiction: An Update. | Ait-Daoud N et al. | — | 2019 | → |
| Association between alcohol and Alzheimer's disease. | Huang WJ et al. | — | 2016 | → |
| Contextual factors in geosocial-networking smartphone application use and engagement in condomless anal intercourse among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men who use Grindr. | Goedel WC et al. | — | 2016 | → |
| Effect of Pingan Fang, a Traditional Chinese Medicine compound, on behavioral sensitization and conditioned place preference induced by ethanol in mice. | Jia L et al. | — | 2016 | → |
| Characterization of cerebellar ataxia in chronic alcoholics using the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS). | Fitzpatrick LE et al. | — | 2012 | → |
| Decision-making in people who relapsed to driving under the influence of alcohol. | Kasar M et al. | — | 2010 | → |
| Enhanced 5-HT(2A) receptor status in the hypothalamus and corpus striatum of ethanol-treated rats. | Akash KG et al. | — | 2008 | → |
| An inverse relationship between typical alcohol consumption and facial symmetry detection ability in young women. | Oinonen KA et al. | — | 2007 | → |
| The underlying role of aggressivity in the relation between executive functioning and alcohol consumption. | Giancola PR | — | 2007 | → |
| Gene-environment interplay in alcoholism and other substance abuse disorders: expressions of heritability and factors influencing vulnerability. | Palomo T et al. | — | 2004 | → |
| Correlates of substance use disorder among psychiatric outpatients: focus on cognition, social role functioning, and psychiatric status. | Carey KB et al. | — | 2003 | → |
| Executive functioning, temperament, and drug use involvement in adolescent females with a substance use disorder. | Giancola PR et al. | — | 2003 | → |
| Alcohol use and the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. | Tyas SL | — | 2001 | → |
| Selective attentional processing and the right hemisphere: effects of aging and alcoholism. | Evert DL et al. | — | 2001 | → |
| Alcohol, aging, and the stress response. | Spencer RL et al. | — | 1999 | → |
| Hypoperfusion of the cerebellum and aging effects on cerebral cortex blood flow in abstinent alcoholics: a SPECT study. | Harris GJ et al. | — | 1999 | → |
| Impairments of brain and behavior: the neurological effects of alcohol. | Oscar-Berman M et al. | — | 1997 | → |
| Imaging Studies of Aging, Neurodegenerative Disease, and Alcoholism. | Eberling JL et al. | — | 1995 | → |