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Thursday, May 31, 2007

A widespread distinct pattern of cerebral atrophy in patients with alcohol addiction revealed by voxel-based morphometry
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry 2007;78:610-61

To determine brain atrophy patterns in patients with alcohol dependence.

In patients with alcohol dependence, VBM of GM revealed a significant decrease in density in the precentral gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, insular cortex, dorsal hippocampus, anterior thalamus and cerebellum compared with controls. Reduced density of WM was found in the periventricular area, pons and cerebellar pedunculi in patients with alcohol addiction.

Our findings provide evidence that alcohol addiction is associated with altered density of GM and WM of specific brain regions. This supports the assumption that alcohol dependence is associated with both local GM dysfunction and altered brain connectivity.

Also, VBM is an effective tool for in vivo investigation of cerebral atrophy in patients with alcohol addiction.

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Reprint Request E-mail: s.mechtcheriakov@uibk.ac.at
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