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Familial alcoholism and premorbid cognitive deficit: a failure to replicate subtype differences
1Center of Alcohol Studies, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08855.
Journal of Studies on Alcohol
|July 1, 1992
Summary
Offspring of alcoholics (FH+) show no significant cognitive differences compared to controls (FH-). Specific family history subtypes do not predict neurocognitive vulnerability in young adults.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Psychology
Background:
- Offspring of alcoholics exhibit varied functioning.
- Understanding neurocognitive vulnerability and resilience in this group is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine cognitive functioning in young adults with a positive family history of alcoholism (FH+).
- To test if cognitive vulnerability is linked to genetic pedigree by analyzing distinct family history subtypes.
Main Methods:
- Systematic examination of a broad range of cognitive abilities.
- Comparison between FH+ subjects (first-degree, second-degree, or both relative history) and a control group (FH-) with no family history of alcoholism.
Main Results:
- FH+ subjects had slightly less formal education on average than FH- subjects.
- No significant differences in cognitive functioning were found among FH+ subtypes or compared to FH- controls.
- No trends indicated cognitive deficits in premorbid FH+ subjects based on genetic pedigree.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive deficits are not generally observed in community samples of premorbid offspring of alcoholics.
- Specific genetic pedigrees, as defined, do not explain variability in neuropsychological functioning.
- A multidimensional typological approach may be needed to identify neurocognitive vulnerability sources in premorbid offspring.