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Published on: February 6, 2019
Relationship between liver function and brain shrinkage in patients with alcohol dependence
Chun-Hsin Chen1, Jonathan Walker, Reza Momenan
1Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Studies, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Alcohol dependence is linked to brain shrinkage, with higher liver function test results, particularly Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), correlating with reduced brain volume. This indicates a significant impact of liver health on brain structure in affected individuals.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Hepatology
- Radiology
Background:
- Alcohol dependence is associated with oxidative stress, potentially causing brain shrinkage and liver damage.
- Understanding the link between liver function and brain volume is crucial for managing alcohol-related health issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between liver function markers and brain volume (BV) in individuals with alcohol dependence.
- To compare these correlations in patients with alcohol dependence versus healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 124 patients with alcohol dependence and 111 healthy controls.
- Assayed liver function tests (GGT, AST, ALT), hematocrit (Hct), and albumin.
- Conducted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure brain volume indices after 3-week abstinence in patients.
Main Results:
- Patients with alcohol dependence exhibited lower BV and greater brain shrinkage (higher CSFR, BR, GMR, WMR) compared to controls.
- Serum GGT levels strongly correlated with BV, CSFR, BR, GMR, and WMF in patients.
- Liver function indices, especially GGT, were linked to brain shrinkage in patients but not controls.
Conclusions:
- Elevated liver function indices, particularly GGT, are associated with brain shrinkage in alcohol-dependent individuals.
- Serum GGT levels demonstrated a more significant impact on brain shrinkage than aging in female patients.
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