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Friday, May 25, 2007

The neurobiological and neurocognitive consequences of chronic cigarette smoking in alcohol use disorders
 Alcohol and Alcoholism 2007 42(3):174-185





Despite the high prevalence of comorbid chronic smoking in alcohol use disorders, very few studies have addressed the potential neurobiological or neurocognitive effects of chronic smoking in alcohol use disorders.

Here, we briefly review the existing literature on the neurobiological and neurocognitive consequences of chronic cigarette smoking and summarize our neuroimaging and neurocognitive studies on the effects of comorbid chronic excessive alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking in treatment-seeking and treatment-naiddotv populations.

Our research suggests comorbid chronic cigarette smoking modulates magnetic resonance-detectable brain injury and neurocognition in alcohol use disorders and that neurobiological recovery in our abstinent alcoholics is adversely affected by chronic smoking.

The material presented also contributes to ongoing discussions about treatment strategies for comorbid alcoholism and cigarette smoking and will hopefully stimulate further research into the neurobiological and neurocognitive consequences of chronic smoking in alcoholism and other substance use disorders.

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Reprint Request E-mail: timothy.durazzo@ucsf.edu
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