Patterns of cognitive dysfunction in alcoholics

Abstract

Korboot and Naylor (1972) studied institutionalized alcoholics (mean age 56) with respect to WAIS and MIA. The present study was intended to provide information about 65 younger indivduals (mean age 36) in relation to two levels of severity of alcoholic addiction, and total abstention. The scores resulting from testing with WAIS and MIA showed progressive deterioration from the group of 13 total abstainers through the Low Severity to the High Severity Group, and onwards to the older alcoholic dementia group of the earlier study. The downward trend of the scores was significant, and is consistent with the view that excessive exposure to alcohol results in progressive permanent neuronal damage, which may be considered as premature ageing in relation to impairment of psychomotor skill.