Hypoperfusion of inferior frontal brain regions in abstinent alcoholics: A pilot SPECT study

Objective: This pilot study evaluated hypotheses concerning the relationship between cerebral hypoperfusion and residual deficits in the functioning of frontal brain systems in abstinent long-term alcoholics. Method: The participants (N = 22) were 10 healthy, abstinent alcoholics (9 men) and 12 age-equivalent nonalcoholic controls (10 men). Cerebral blood flow was observed through the use of regionally specific computer-derived quantitative analysis of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) perfusion images. Measures of alcohol use, abstinence and neuro-psychological functioning were also obtained to relate to SPECT findings. Results: A positive relationship was observed between per fusion levels in the left inferior frontal brain region and years of sobriety. Alcoholics with less than 4 years of sobriety had significantly reduced left inferior frontal perfusion compared with both nonalcoholic controls and alcoholics having longer periods of sobriety. Conclusions: The findings support the hypothesis that frontal brain abnormalities in alcoholics may subside with extended abstinence.