Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 27, 2026
Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study
Published on: August 18, 2020
Lack of association between hippocampal volume reduction and first-onset alcohol withdrawal seizure. A volumetric MRI
S Bleich1, W Sperling, D Degner
1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany.
Aims And Methods:
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the hippocampus has been extensively studied in both neurological and psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, hippocampal volume reductions on MRI have been reported in patients with chronic alcoholism. The present volumetric MRI study was undertaken to determine whether an association exists between hippocampal volume reduction and first-onset alcohol withdrawal seizure. Until recently, no data as to whether hippocampal volume reductions in alcoholics might serve as a predictor of withdrawal seizures were available.
Results:
We found the average hippocampal volumes measured by high resolution MRI to be significantly reduced in 52 alcoholics compared with 30 healthy controls. Besides a decrease of hippocampal volume in patients with chronic alcoholism, we could not find any significant correlation between the occurrence of seizures during alcohol withdrawal and the amount of hippocampal volume reduction in these patients.
Conclusions:
Thus, the alcoholism-related atrophy within the hippocampal formation in patients suffering from chronic alcoholism does not seem to be the source of convulsive activity in these patients. Neither does the amount of atrophy allow the occurrence of first-onset withdrawal seizures to be predicted.
Insights
Chronic alcoholism is linked to reduced hippocampal volume. However, this brain atrophy does not predict alcohol withdrawal seizures in patients, according to MRI findings.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Hippocampal volume on MRI is studied in neurological and psychiatric disorders.
- Reduced hippocampal volume is observed in chronic alcoholism.
- The predictive value of hippocampal volume reduction for alcohol withdrawal seizures is unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between hippocampal volume reduction and first-onset alcohol withdrawal seizures.
- To determine if hippocampal volume reduction predicts withdrawal seizures in alcoholics.
Main Methods:
- Volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used.
- 52 patients with chronic alcoholism and 30 healthy controls were compared.
- Hippocampal volumes were measured using high-resolution MRI.
Main Results:
- Significantly reduced average hippocampal volumes were found in alcoholics compared to controls.
- No significant correlation was found between hippocampal volume reduction and the occurrence of seizures during alcohol withdrawal.
Conclusions:
- Alcoholism-related hippocampal atrophy does not appear to cause convulsive activity during withdrawal.
- The degree of hippocampal atrophy cannot predict first-onset alcohol withdrawal seizures.
More Related Videos
12:50Lesion Explorer: A Video-guided, Standardized Protocol for Accurate and Reliable MRI-derived Volumetrics in Alzheimer's Disease and Normal Elderly
Published on: April 14, 2014
09:26Disruption of Frontal Lobe Neural Synchrony During Cognitive Control by Alcohol Intoxication
Published on: February 6, 2019
