A pilot study assessing the brain gauge as an indicator of cognitive recovery in alcohol dependence

Abstract

Alcohol dependence (AD) is associated with multiple cognitive deficits, which can affect treatment outcomes. Current measures of tracking brain recovery (e.g., functional magnetic resonance imaging) can be less accessible for practitioners. This study pilots a novel device (the brain gauge; BG) to assess its utility, and track recovery of cognitive function in residential alcohol treatment. Methods: A repeated measures design assessed changes in cognitive function during detoxification. Twenty‐one participants with AD (16 Male; Mean age 43.85 ± 6.21) completed a battery of alcohol and memory questionnaires and BG tasks at two time‐points (∼days 4 and 10) during a single managed detoxification episode. Results: Repeated measures ANCOVA revealed that some BG metrics significantly improved, with medium to large effect sizes ‐ processing speed, focus, temporal order judgement and overall cortical metric. However, differences in subjective cognitive function were non‐significant after controlling for depression and anxiety change scores. Anxiety change emerged as a significant factor in subjective cognitive function. Conclusions: We conclude it is possible that the prefrontal cortex (PFC) recovers more slowly compared to other brain areas, and there are compounding effects of improvements in anxiety and depression, and metacognitive deficits on subjective EF assessments. Future research should seek to validate the clinical utility of the BG by comparing against established neuroimaging methods.

Changes in processing speed during early abstinence from alcohol dependence

“…Previous research using such a device has highlighted alcohol-related differences and changes in cognitive function, indicating that this technology has potential use in this field ( Nguyen et al, 2013 ; Powell et al, 2021 ). Indeed, a pilot study by Powell et al (2021) found that Brain Gauge composite scores most sensitive to early treatment were largely those using RT tasks. Understanding RT change during early recovery and how this compares to the ‘normal’ function (of controls) will contribute to our understanding of treatment outcomes.…”

Younger, drunk, and fast: Paradoxical rapid reaction time in hazardous drinkers

“…In an earlier study, we used vibrotactile presentation with response via computer mouse to identify alcohol-related changes in processing speed during early residential detox in individuals with an AUD ( Powell et al, 2021b ). This approach also identified differences in the ability to discriminate between different amplitudes in heavy and light drinkers ( Nguyen et al, 2013 ) and in young (aged 18–26 years) drinkers, and therefore appears sensitive to alcohol-related cognitive changes.…”