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Alkohol induzierte kognitive Dysfunktion

Alcohol induced cognitive deficits

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Zusammenfassung

Alkoholkonsum kann zu einer akuten Intoxikation mit entsprechender klinischer Symptomatik führen. Im ersten Stadium der Alkoholintoxikation kommt es zur Exzitation mit Enthemmungen, verlängerten Reaktionszeiten und verminderter Schmerzwahrnehmung, sowie zu nachweisbaren Veränderungen der kognitiven Leistungen insbesondere zu einer Beeinträchtigung der Gedächtnisleistungen. Jedoch sind die kognitiven Folgen einer Intoxikation in den allermeisten Fällen reversibel sofern keine Alkoholabhängigkeit besteht. Durch chronischen Alkoholkonsum ergeben sich erhebliche neuropsychologische Defizite. Insbesondere zeigen Alkoholkranke eine deutliche Dysfunktionalität in der sozialen Kognition sowie Defizite in exekutiven Funktionen wie in Problemlösefähigkeiten und Abstraktion, beim Entscheidungstreffen, Planen und Organisieren aber auch Beeinträchtigung der Handlungskontrolle und Inhibierung.

Bei etwa 50 % der Alkoholabhängigen sind Einbußen der Kognition mit einer zerebralen Atrophie in der Bildgebung des Gehirns vergesellschaftet. Es zeigen sich auch geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede, sowohl auf akute Alkoholintoxikation, als auch bei chronischem Alkoholkonsum reagieren Frauen vulnerabler mit Entwicklung dauerhafter Schäden.

Summary

Previous studies could show a complex relationship between alcohol consumption and cognition but also with processes of ageing both social and biological. Acute effects of alcohol during intoxication include clinical signs such as excitation and reduced inhibition, slurred speech, and increased reaction time but also cognitive dysfunction, especially deficits in memory functions. However, these cognitive deficits during alcohol intoxication are reversible while patients with alcohol addiction and chronic alcohol intake show severe impairments of cognitive functions especially deficits in executive functions. Frontal executive impairments in these patients include deficits in problem solving, abstraction, planning, organizing, and working memory.

Additionally, gender specific deficits are relevant for the course of the disease and its concomitant health problems with female alcoholics showing a higher vulnerability for cognitive dysfunction and brain atrophy at earlier stages of alcoholism history.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Psychologie, Karl Franzens Universität Graz, Graz, Österreich

    Elisabeth Weiss

  2. Abteilung für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie A, LKH Hall, Milserstraße 10, 6060, Hall in Tirol, Österreich

    Evelin M. Singewald PhD

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  1. Elisabeth Weiss
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  2. Evelin M. Singewald PhD
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  3. Beatrix Ruepp
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  4. Josef Marksteiner
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Correspondence to Evelin M. Singewald PhD.

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Weiss, E., Singewald, E., Ruepp, B. et al. Alkohol induzierte kognitive Dysfunktion. Wien Med Wochenschr 164, 9–14 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10354-013-0226-0

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