Alcoholic cognitive deterioration and nutritional deficiencies (original) (raw)

This study investigates the link between alcoholic cognitive deterioration (ACD) and nutritional deficiencies, particularly focusing on serum thiamin levels among 54 chronic alcoholics compared to 30 controls. Significant cognitive impairments in the alcoholics were noted, particularly in intellectual and visuospatial tasks, though not in verbal memory. Serum thiamin levels were lower in alcoholics, but correlations with cognitive performance were weak, suggesting that factors like the duration of alcohol consumption and education may play a more significant role. The findings challenge the assumption that thiamin deficiency is a primary causative factor in ACD, emphasizing the need for further exploration into the multi-faceted nature of cognitive effects in chronic alcoholism.