Cognitive Performance in Long‐Term Abstinent Alcoholic Individuals

Abstract

Background-There are few investigations of the potential recovery of neurocognitive function in chronic alcoholic samples after very long-term abstinence. The current study examined cognitive abilities in middle-aged, (mean age 46.8 years) long-term abstinent alcoholics (LTAA). Twenty-five LTAA men and 23 LTAA women abstinent for an average of 6.7 years were compared to an equal number of gender and age comparable normal controls (NC). We examined the association of neurocognitive variables with age, duration of abstinence, alcohol use measures, and the density of family history of problem drinking.

Neurocognitive characteristics of DUI recidivists

“…Interestingly, the results of a recent cross-sectional study (Fein et al, 2006) indicated that most of the diffuse cognitive deficits observed in recently abstinent alcoholics abated in abstinent alcoholics with up to 13 years of sobriety to levels comparable to those of non-alcoholic controls. One notable exception was spatial capacities which appeared selectively vulnerable to long lasting impairment.…”

Paradoxical Cognitive Capacities in Dual Diagnosis Schizophrenia: The Quest for Explanatory Factors

“…These methodological shortcomings are important for our understanding of the effect of psychoactive substance abuse on cognition among patients with schizophrenia. This is especially true since the duration of substance abuse and length of abstinence are two factors that have been shown to influence cognition among substance abusers without psychotic disorders (Yucel et al, 2007;Fein et al, 2006;Pope, Gruber, & Yurgelun-Todd, 2001). Moreover, it will be important to evaluate, in the future, the influence of antipsychotics on cognitive performance in patients with dual disorders, since these patients are typically poorly compliant with medication (Negrete, 2003).…”

Change in Neurocognition in People with Co-occurring Alcohol Misuse and Depression: 12-Month Follow-up

“…However, debate continues about the longer term pattern of change. Studies have demonstrated improvement in memory and executive function in the first months of abstinence [15] while others have found ongoing impairments in these domains [16,18], with deficits persisting for months or years after cessation of alcohol misuse [19]. or both of these conditions have improved.…”