Decreased serum level of NGF in alcohol-dependent patients with declined executive function

Figures & data

Table 1 Correlations among demographics, alcohol-related data, NGF, and TMT

	Mean ± SD	TMT-A	TMT-B	NGF
Demographic data
Age, years	51.18±6.38	0.253	0.173	−0.157
Alcohol related data
Onset age of drinking	21.15±7.98	0.461**	0.305	0.116
Frequency of alcohol consumed (per week)	4.15±2.21	0.114	−0.263	−0.122
Daily amount of alcohol consumed (standard drink)	3.18±2.14	0.024	0.066	−0.322*
First age of alcohol treatment	38.52±8.22	0.095	0.103	0.050
Total abstinence period, days	185.66±474.35	−0.038	−0.065	−0.166

Notes:

* P<0.05;

** P<0.01.

Abbreviations: TMT, trail-making test; NGF, nerve-growth factor; SD, standard deviation.

Table 2 Correlations between NGF and neuropsychological tests for cognitive function evaluation

Neuropsychological tests	Mean ± SD	NGF r
Verbal fluency	15.29±3.67	0.173
Word-list memory	18.13±4.03	0.041
Word-list recall	6.45±2.13	−0.070
Word-list recognition	9.34±0.94	−0.038
Constructional praxis	10.42±1.18	0.050
Constructional recall	8.66±2.53	−0.011
Boston naming test	12.18±1.92	−0.084
MMSE-K	26.84±3.11	0.134
Trail making test A	50.87±24.57	−0.101
Trail making test B	190.74±91.33	−0.324*

Notes:

* P<0.05.

Abbreviations: NGF, nerve-growth factor; SD, standard deviation; MMSE-K, Mini-Mental State Examination – Korean.

Table 3 Correlations between NGF- and TMT-derived indices

Variable	TMT A	TMT B	TMT B – A	TMT B/A	TMT B – A/A
NGF	−0.101	−0.326*	−0.351*	−0.358*	−0.358*

Notes:

* P<0.05.

Abbreviations: TMT, trail-making test; NGF, nerve-growth factor.