EEG Correlates of the Alcohol-Induced Organic Brain Syndrome in Man

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Abstract
Chronic alcoholics [14] were studied within 1-3 wk of beginning abstinence for a duration of 6-10 wk. Patients were drug-free during the study. EEG were recorded on admission, and twice at 2-3 wk intervals. Neurologic examinations were performed during the same week as EEG, and patients received a psychologic examination and computer tomography scan within 3 weeks. Two groups could be identified. One group had high neurologic impairment scores, low alpha production, high 20-30 Hz power, impaired gait and mental performance, while the other had low scores, normal alpha rhythm and reduced degree of mental dysfunction. The impaired group showed marked improvement in neurologic scores, alpha rhythm and 20-30 Hz power within 4-6 wk, in contrast to no change for the unimpaired group. There was no evidence that age, duration of drinking, time from last drink or cortical atrophy were involved in predisposing alcoholics to demonstrate the observed changes. Spontaneous recovery in brain function of neurologically impaired alcoholics accompanies evidently abstinence from chronic alcohol consumption.