ALCOHOLIC DEMENTIA: A HYPOTHESIS
The LancetPublished 1 May 1986
W Lishman
Citations116
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score12.11
SNIP22.72
Generate an AI Snapshot to get a quick, structured summary of this paper.
Study Snapshot
ObjectiveStudy objective
MethodsResearch methodology
PopulationPopulation studied
Sample sizeSample sizes
OutcomesStudy outcomes here
ResultsStudy results comes here
LimitationsResearch study limitations comes here
A concise AI-generated summary of the paper will appear here once you click Generate AI Snapshot.
TL;DR
Dementia in alcoholics may depend to a large degree on cortical cholinergic deficiency resulting from involvement of key basal forebrain nuclei in a Wernicke-type pathology.
Abstract
Dementia in alcoholics may depend to a large degree on cortical cholinergic deficiency resulting from involvement of key basal forebrain nuclei in a Wernicke-type pathology. Other neurotransmitter functions may also be implicated. Such a model accounts for the difficulty in establishing alcoholic dementia as a distinct disorder and in distinguishing it from Alzheimer's disease.
Keywords
MedicineBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
ScienceAlzheimer's Disease and Senile Dementia: Loss of Neurons in the Basal Forebrain
3,618 Citations1982PJ Whitehouse, DL Price +4 more
Demonstration of selective degeneration of neurons of the nucleus basalis of Meynert represents the first documentation of a loss of a transmitter-specific neuronal population in a major disorder of higher cortical function and points to a critical subcortical lesion in Alzheimer's patients.
The Journal of Comparative NeurologyCholinergic innervation of cortex by the basal forebrain: Cytochemistry and cortical connections of the septal area, diagonal band nuclei, nucleus basalis (Substantia innominata), and hypothalamus in the rhesus monkey
1,973 Citations1983M.‐Marsel Mesulam, Elliott J. Mufson +2 more
The organization of projections from the cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain to neocortex and associated structures was investigated in the rhesus monkey with the help of horseradish peroxidase transport, acetyl‐cholinesterase histochemistry, and choline acetyltransferase immunohis‐tochemistry.
Acta NeuropathologicaLoss of neurons in the nucleus basalis of Meynert in Alzheimer's disease, paralysis agitans and Korsakoff's disease
821 Citations1983Thomas Arendt, Volker Bigl +2 more
The results demonstrate a loss of neurons in the nucleus basalis of Meynert in Alzheimer's disease but no marked reduction in postencephalitic parkinsonism, Huntington's disease, chronic alcoholism without dementia, schizophrenia and infantile brain damage.
Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & PsychiatryTHE WERNICKE-KORSAKOFF SYNDROME
815 Citations1972R. W. R. Russell
This latest addition to the series on contemporary neurology is a classic of its kind and can already be recognized as the definitive work on the WernickeKorsakoff syndrome.
Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
808 Citations2013Gerald F. Gebhart, Robert F. Schmidt
Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental ResearchBrain Lesions in Alcoholics
534 Citations1993Michael E. Charness
Computerized morphometric studies of alcoholic brains have revealed ventricular enlargement, selective loss of subcortical white matter, and alterations in neuronal size, number, architecture, and synaptic complexity, suggesting that ethanol neurotoxicity may not be the sole cause.
Brain ResearchMagnocellular nuclei of the basal forebrain project to neocortex, brain stem, and olfactory bulb. Review of some functional correlates
488 Citations1975Ivan Divac
Horseradish peroxidase was injected into the neocortex of squirrel monkeys, rats, tree shrews and one opossum, in the brain stem of one squirrel monkey and rats, and in the olfactory bulb, the corpus vitreum or the vascular system of rats.
Archives of General PsychiatryCognitive Loss and Recovery in Long-term Alcohol Abusers
380 Citations1983Jason Brandt
It is proposed that recovery of short-term memory reflects reestablishment of cortical functioning, while the persistent long- term memory defect indicates more permanent damage to diencephalic structures.
Journal of the Neurological SciencesBrain lesions in alcoholics
341 Citations1982A. Torvik, Christian F. Lindboe +1 more
The study confirmed the existence of a generalized alcoholic brain atrophy in alcoholics and suggested that inactive Wernicke's encephalopathy is the main underlying lesion both in Korsakoff's psychosis and "alcoholic dementia" but that additional lesions are present in the latter group.
Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & PsychiatryThe incidence of Wernicke's encephalopathy in Australia--a neuropathological study of 131 cases.
339 Citations1983C Harper
Wernicke's encephalopathy could be considered a "progressive" disorder and as patients respond well to thiamine replacement therapy, early diagnosis is important and prevention by vitamin enrichment of alcoholic beverages may have to be considered in an attempt to minimise the social and economic impact of Wernickes encephalopathic impact on Western society.
BMJOutcome of Investigation of Patients with Presenile Dementia
306 Citations1972C. D. Marsden, M.J. Harrison
Of 106 patients admitted for investigation to a neurological hospital with a presumptive diagnosis of dementia, 84 were confirmed to have intellectual impairment or loss of learning and memory function or both; a possible aetiology for the dementia was found in 36 patients.
Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & PsychiatryWernicke's encephalopathy: a more common disease than realised. A neuropathological study of 51 cases.
292 Citations1979C Harper
During a four year peirod, 51 cases of Wernicke's encephalopathy were diagnosed at necropsy, an incidence of 1.7%, one which can be readily treated and, more importantly, prevented by adequate nutrition.
The LancetTHE INVESTIGATION OF DEMENTIA: RESULTS IN 200 CONSECUTIVE ADMISSIONS
231 Citations1981John Sydney Smith, L. G. Kiloh
It is recommended that all patients with a provisional diagnosis of dementia be investigated early in the course of their illnesses in anticipation of the finding of a reversible dementia or a treatable pseudodementing illness.
BMJBrain shrinkage in chronic alcoholics: a pathological study.
214 Citations1985C Harper, Jillian J. Kril +1 more
A quantitative neuropathological necropsy study of 22 control and 22 chronic alcoholic subjects showed a statistically significant loss of brain tissue in the chronic alcoholic group, but the loss appeared to be from the white matter of the cerebral hemispheres rather than the cerebral cortex.
Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental NeurologyTopography of the Magnocellular Basal Forebrain System in Human Brain
197 Citations1984John C. Hedreen, Robert G. Struble +2 more
The present report describes the topographical distribution of these large, intensely basophilic, basal forebrain neurons in human brain and suggests that degeneration of these cells contributes to the loss of presynaptic cortical cholingergic markers which occurs in these patients.
BrainCOMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY OF THE BRAIN IN CHRONIC ALCOHOLISM
194 Citations1982María A. Ron, William B. Acker +2 more
One hundred male alcoholics from an inpatient treatment unit were examined by computerized axial tomography and abstinence appeared to be strongly related to slow partial resolution of the CT scan changes.
Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & PsychiatryBrain atrophy in chronic alcoholic patients: a quantitative pathological study.
188 Citations1985C Harper, Jillian J. Kril
The British Journal of PsychiatryThe Relationship Between Korsakov's Syndrome and ‘Alcoholic Dementia’
137 Citations1978John Cutting
Fifty cases of Korsakov's syndrome and 13 of ‘alcoholic dementia’ were identified from hospital records with the aim of examining the claim of each to be regarded as a clinical entity.
Archives of NeurologyEvaluation of Patients With Progressive Intellectual Deterioration
136 Citations1976Frank R. Freemon
Psychological Medicine Monograph SupplementThe alcoholic brain: CT scan and psychological findings
131 Citations1983María A. Ron
The main results of the study can be summarized as follows: alcoholics had larger ventricles, wider cerebral sulci and wider Sylvian and interhemispheric fissures, and alcoholics showed significant cognitive impairment when compared with controls.
NeuroscienceA cytoarchitectonic and histochemical study of nucleus basalis and associated cell groups in the normal human brain
129 Citations1984Clifford B. Saper, Thomas Chelimsky
Observations suggest that the topographic organization of the magnocellular basal projection to cerebral cortex in other species probably exists in man as well and will be important in future studies of the fate of these neurons in neurological degenerative diseases.
American PsychologistCognitive impairment in chronic alcoholics: Some cause for optimism.
123 Citations1983Mark S. Goldman
Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & PsychiatryBrain weights in alcoholics.
100 Citations1982C Harper, P. C. Blumbergs
Both subgroups of alcoholics had abnormally low brain weights which suggests that alcohol, the factor common to both groups, is more important than nutritional deficiencies in causing brain damage and a reduction in brain weight.
British Medical BulletinOBJECTIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN ALCOHOLICS AFTER THE WITHDRAWAL OF ALCOHOL
26 Citations1982William B. Acker