Frontal lobe executive dysfunction and cerebral perfusion study in alcohol dependence syndrome

BACKGROUND: Long-term alcohol use leading to frontal lobe impairment has been a cause of concern for many decades. However, there are very few studies from India of evaluation of frontal lobe executive dysfunction among alcoholics. Hence, this study was undertaken to evaluate the frontal executive dysfunction using Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and perfusion deficits by Single-Photon Emission Computerized Tomography (SPECT) among alcohol-dependent patients. AIM: The aim of this study is to evaluate the frontal executive dysfunction using WCST and frontal lobe perfusion deficits by SPECT among alcohol-dependent patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study involving 20 alcohol dependence syndrome patients in a tertiary care center. After ethical clearance and informed consent, all were evaluated using WCST and SPECT. RESULTS: About 45% patients had impairment on WCST, and it was related to the duration of drinking. About 55% showed reduced frontal lobe perfusion on SPECT scan and they had a long duration of drinking compared to controls. Among the patients showing impairment on WCST subscores, more than 50% had reduced frontal lobe perfusion on SPECT. CONCLUSION: This study not only confirmed the executive function impairment and frontal lobe perfusion deficits in alcohol-dependent patients but also showed a concomitant presence of both in patients with chronic alcohol abuse.