Improvement of ataxia in alcoholic cerebellar atrophy through alcohol abstinence

Postural instability was measured and short, medium and long latency EMG responses to angular displacement of the ankle were recorded from leg muscles in a group of 17 alcoholics who presented with clinical signs of cerebellar atrophy of the anterior lobe. Recordings were performed twice (average interval 18.5 months) to determine the effects of continued drinking versus abstinence on the signs of the cerebellar damage. Patients who were abstinent (n = 11) exhibited a significant, sometimes dramatic decrease of body sway whereas patients who continued drinking (n = 6) showed increased body sway when the eyes were closed. Short and medium latency EMG responses were unaltered in both groups of patients. The integral of the long latency response of the antagonist tended to increase with continued abuse and to decrease in abstinent patients.