CLINICAL STUDY: The influence of blood alcohol concentrations of around 0.03% on neuropsychological functions—a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled investigation

Abstract

There is a general agreement that blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) of about 0.05% result in impairment of the ability to drive. This fact has been supported by means of experiments. In addition, there are only a few studies to date investigating low BACs. The present study aims to investigate the extent and quality of cognitive changes in low BACs of around 0.03%. Sixteen healthy male subjects were examined in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. During the trials the BAC was regulated to about 0.03%. As part of the study a record was made of the general level of intelligence, subjective impairments, possible depressive symptoms, general ability to perform, vigilance, divided attention, response times and performance of memory. Statistical analysis took place using the two-period crossover design. Verbal intelligence, general performance, vigilance (optical stimuli), divided attention, vigilance towards acoustic stimuli and the general response time to acoustic and visual-acoustic sequential stimuli, and memory were not impaired significantly by a BAC of around 0.03%. The total response and motor response time to optical stimuli as well as decision time about sequential optical stimuli were, however, significantly changed for BACs of around 0.03%. In conclusion, the present results show that already in BACs of around 0.03%, particular cognitive functions which rely on perception and processing of visual information, are significantly impaired. This was evident in the more complex and urgent tasks.

Survey of alcohol-related presentations to Australasian emergency departments

“…The results of studies examining impairment at low BAC in the range of • 0.01 to 0.05 are mixed, depending on how impairment and performance are measured (Howland et al 2000;Fell & Voas 2006;Howland et al 2006;Breitmeier et al 2007). However, while blood alcohol levels up to 0.05 per cent may not significantly impair psychomotor performance, they invoke a level of drowsiness sufficient to impair performance and increase motor vehicle crash risk (Banks et al 2004;Barrett et al 2004;Barrett et al 2005).…”

“…as the blood alcohol level increases, cognitive function and psychomotor • performance decrease rapidly (Easdon et al 2005); consumption of less than two standard drinks potentially results in effects that increase risk of injury (Tagawa et al 2000;Howland et al 2001;Marinkovic et al 2001;Marinkovic et al 2004;Moulton et al 2005;Breitmeier et al 2007) and driving ability is impaired at blood alcohol levels of about 0.05 per cent, a level reached after two or three standard drinks (Tagawa et al 2000) national health and medic al research council | 55 australian guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol…”

Acute Effects of Moderate Alcohol on Psychomotor, Set Shifting, and Working Memory Function in Older and Younger Social Drinkers

“…However, the acute neurobehavioral effects of subintoxicating blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) associated with moderate drinking sessions (i.e., < .08 g/dl) have received relatively little attention. A limited literature suggests that top-down attentional control, visual perception, and inhibitory function may be vulnerable to impairment at low to moderate BACs (Breitmeier et al, 2007;de Wit et al, 2000;Dougherty et al, 2008;Fillmore, 2007;Friedman et al, 2011;Holloway, 1994;Oscar-Berman and Marinkovic;, 2007;Reed et al, 2012).…”

Principales daños sanitarios y sociales relacionados con el consumo de alcohol

“…El mayor riesgo de lesiones es consistente con las limitaciones cognitivas (control de impulsos, memoria, procesamiento de información) y psicomotoras (focalización visual, atención, tiempo de reacción, coordinación ojo-mano-pie) y la consiguiente dificultad para realizar tareas complejas asociadas al consumo de alcohol [139][140][141][142][143][144] . En las lesiones intencionadas puede influir también el aumento de agresividad y menor aversión al riesgo provocados por el alcohol 16,145,146 .…”