Hippocampus volume loss due to chronic heavy drinking

Thomas P Beresford1, David B Arciniegas, Julie Alfers

  • 1Mental Health Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 1055 Clermont Street, Denver, CO 80220, USA. thomas.beresford@uchsc.edu

Summary

Heavy drinking significantly reduces hippocampal volume in alcohol-dependent individuals. This study found smaller total and left hippocampal volumes in alcohol-dependent subjects compared to controls, suggesting a unique injury to the hippocampus.

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