Brain N-Acetyl Aspartate and associations with cognitive impairment in alcohol dependent patients

Kirsten C Morley; Jim Lagopoulos; Warren Logge; Kate Chitty; Ahmed A Moustafa; Paul S Haber

doi:10.1080/13803395.2019.1685078

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Brain N-Acetyl Aspartate and associations with cognitive impairment in alcohol dependent patients

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Brain N-Acetyl Aspartate and associations with cognitive impairment in alcohol dependent patients

Kirsten C Morley, Jim Lagopoulos, Warren Logge, Kate Chitty, Ahmed A Moustafa and Paul S Haber

Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, Vol.42(2), pp.111-117

2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13803395.2019.1685078

Appears in Thompson Institute Research Collection

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https://doi.org/10.1080/13803395.2019.1685078View

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Abstract

alcohol dependence

proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy

N-Acetyl Aspartate

cognition

cognitive spectroscopy

Other Collaborations

Thompson Institute Special Collection

UniSC Diversity Area - Disability and Inclusion

Introduction: Chronic alcohol consumption has been observed to be associated with a range of cognitive impairments that impact on treatment management. In this spectroscopy study, we examined the association of N-Acetyl Aspartate (NAA), a marker of neuronal integrity, and cognitive impairment in alcohol dependent patients. Method: Using in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS), we examined brain metabolite levels in 31 alcohol dependent individuals. 1H-MRS from the parietal lobe were analyzed to yield absolute concentrations of NAA. Alcohol history, neurocognitive function including Clock Drawing Test (CDT), Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE), Trial Making Test (TMT) and Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) were also assessed. Covariates included concurrent medication, age and recent alcohol consumption. Results: There were statistically significant bivariate associations between NAA and the variables age, CDT and BART (r = -.45, P = 01; r = -.53, P = .01; r = .49, P = .02) respectively) but there were no statistically significant associations with other measures of cognitive function. Controlling for age, concurrent medication and recent alcohol consumption, multiple linear regression revealed a negative association between parietal NAA (Model: F = 6.96, R2 = .66, P = .001) and CDT scores (B = -.35, P = .03), a positive association with BART scores (B = .47, P = .02). Conclusion: These results demonstrate that in alcohol dependent patients lower NAA/Cr is associated with reduced cognitive functioning and increased risk-taking.

Details

Title: Brain N-Acetyl Aspartate and associations with cognitive impairment in alcohol dependent patients
Authors: Kirsten C Morley (Author) - University of Sydney
Jim Lagopoulos (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
Warren Logge (Author) - University of Sydney
Kate Chitty (Author) - University of Sydney
Ahmed A Moustafa (Author) - Western Sydney University
Paul S Haber (Author) - University of Sydney
Publication details: Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, Vol.42(2), pp.111-117
Publisher: Routledge
Date published: 2020
DOI: 10.1080/13803395.2019.1685078
ISSN: 1380-3395; 1380-3395
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Thompson Institute
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99451424902621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Clinical Neurology; Psychology; Psychology, Clinical

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