In vivo and in vitro tissue scanning studies in alcoholic brain disease

X ray CT and MRI can identify brain lesions in organic syndromes attributed to chronic alcoholism. Cortical atrophy which improves with abstinence can also be identified. Magnetic resonance relaxation times are altered and may provide a means of monitoring improvement or deterioration in response to abstinence or continued drinking. Altered relaxation times may be due to altered free-to-bound ratios of water and may act as a marker for biochemical change in alcoholic brain disease.