[Occupational relevance of alcohol related neurological involvement]

Accidents and various degrees of impairment in working performances and abilities are strongly correlated to alcohol consumption, either of moderate or of severe degree. Accidents, in particular, have been investigated in population studies that strongly suggest a direct effect of alcohol on attention and executive functions as well as a relevant interference of drinking with the neurological functioning and with eventual subclinical dysfunction of individuals: epilepsy threshold, cardiovascular risk and previous events, sleep disorders; post-traumatic sequelae.

Impairment of cognitive function (and concomitant functional/structural brain damage) is characterized, in particular, by difficulties in abstract problem solving, visuo-spatial and verbal learning, memory function, perceptual and motor skills, related to disruption of frontal, pontocerebellar and cerebellothalamocortical systems. These abilities should therefore be monitored in at-risk working populations in order to prevent work accidents and to address appropriate therapeutic and rehabilitative interventions.