Abstract
Alcohol is known to block the conversion of the essential fatty acid known as linoleic acid (LA) into gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and thus deprive the body of some of the vital components involved in the structure of cell membranes (Lieber & Spritz, 1966; Reitz, 1979; Ailing et al., 1984). Nervi et al. (1980) showed that alcohol inhibits the enzymes involved in the conversion of LA to arachidonic acid. Alcohol is also known to affect liver function adversely and, as well as being the cause of Wernicke-Korsakoff’s psychosis, can cause minimal impairments in brain function (Miller & Saucedo, 1983; Shaw & Spence, 1985).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Acker, W. & Acker, C. (1982). Bexley-Maudsley Automated Psychological Screening and Bexley-Maudsley Category Sorting Test. Windsor: NFERNelson.
Acker, C., Jacobson, R.R. & Lishman, W.A. (1987). Memory and ventricular size in alcoholics. Psychological Medicine, 17, 343–348.
Alling, C., Gustaysson, L., Kristensson-Aas, A. & Wallerstedt, S. (1984). Changes in fatty acid composition of major glycero-phospho lipids in erythrocyte membranes from chronic alcoholics during withdrawal. Scandinavian Journal of Clinical Laboratory Investigation, 44 283–289.
Besson, J., Glen, E., Glen, I., MacDonell, L. & Skinner, F. (1987). Essential fatty acids, mean cell volume and nuclear magnetic resonance of brains of ethanol-dependent-human subjects. Alcohol and Alcoholism, Suppl.l, 577–581.
Brandt, J., Butters, N., Ryan, C. & Bayog, R. (1983). Cognitive loss and recovery in chronic alcohol abusers. Archives of General Psychiatry, 40, 435–442.
Draper, R., Manning, A., Daly, M. & Larragy, J. (1983). A novel cognitive function test for detection of alcoholic brain damage. Neuropharmacology, 22, 567–569.
Elithorn, A., Mornington, S. & Stavrou, A. (1982). Automated psychological testing: some principles and practice. International Journal of Man-Machine Studies, 17, 247–263.
Elithorn, A., Powell, J., Telford, A. & Cooper, R. (1980). An intelligent terminal for automated psychological testing and remedial practice. in: R.L. Grimsdale & H.C.A. Hankins (eds.). Human Factors and Interactive Displays. Buckingham: Network.
Glen, A.I.M., Glen, E.M.T., MacDonald, F.K., MacDonell, L.E.F., MacKenzie, J.R., Montgomery, D.J., Manku, M.S., Horrobin, D.F. & Morse, N. (1985). Essential fatty acids in the treatment of the alcohol dependence syndrome. in: G.G. Birch & M.G. Lindley (eds.). Alcoholic Beverages. Essex: Elsevier.
Glen, I., Skinner, F., Glen, E. & MacDonell, L. (1987). The role of essential fatty acids in alcohol dependence and tissue damage. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 11, 37–41.
Goldman, M.S. (1983). Cognitive impairment in chronic alcoholics: some cause for optimism. American Psychologist, 38, 1045–1054.
Horrobin, D.F. (1981). Clinical Uses of Essential Fatty Acids. Montreal: Eden Press.
Horrobin, D.F. (1987). Essential fatty acids, prostaglandins and alcoholism: an overview. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 11, 2–9.
Kleinknecht, R.A. & Goldstein, S.G. (1972). Neuropsychological deficits associated with alcoholism: a review and discussion. Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 33, 999–1019.
Lieber, C.S. & Spritz, N. (1966). Effects of prolonged ethanol intake in man: role of dietary, adipose and endogenously synthesized fatty acids in the pathogenesis of the alcoholic fatty liver. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 45, 1400–1411.
MacDonell, L.E.F., Skinner, F.K. & Glen, E.M.T. (1987). The use of two automated neuropsychological tests, Cogfun and the Perceptual Maze Test, with alcoholics. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 22, 285–295.
Miller, W.R. & Saucedo, C.F. (1983). Assessment of neuropsychological impairment and brain damage in problem drinkers. in: C.J. Golden, J.A. Moses, J.A. Coffman et al. (eds.). Clinical Neuropsychology: Interface with Neurologic and Psychiatric Disorders. New York: Grune and Stratton.
Nervi, A.M., Peluffo, R.O., Brenner, R.R. (1980). Effect of ethanol administration on fatty acid desaturation. Lipids, 15, 263–268.
Parsons, O.A. (1983). Cognitive dysfunction and recovery in alcoholics. Substance and Alcohol Actions/Misuse, 4, 175–190.
Parsons, O.A. & Farr, S.P. (1981). The neuropsychology of alcohol and drug use. In S.B. Filskov & T.J. Boll (eds.). Handbook of Clinical Neuropsychology. New York: Wiley and Sons.
Parsons, O.A. & Lebev, W.R. (1981). The relationship between cognitive dysfunction and brain damage in alcoholics: causal, interactive, or epiphenomenal? Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 5, 326–46.
Reitz, R.C. (1979). The effects of ethanol administration on lipid metabolism. Progress in Lipid Research, 18, 87–115.
Ron, M.A. (1977). Brain damage in chronic alcoholism: a neuropathological, neuroradiological and psychological review. Psychological Medicine, 7, 103–112.
Ryan, C. & Butters, N. (1980). Learning and memory impairments in young and old alcoholics: evidence for the premature-aging hypothesis. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 4, 288–293.
Sanchez-Craig, M. (1980). Drinking pattern as a determinant of alcoholics’ performance on the trail making test. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 41, 1082–1090.
Shaw, G.K. & Spence, M. (1985). Psychological impairment in alcoholics. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 20, 243–249.
Wilson, J.T.L., Brooks, D.N. & Phillips, W.A. (1982). Using a microcomputer to study perception, memory and attention after head injury. Poster Presentation, 5th INS European Conference, Deauville, France.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1989 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
MacDonell, L.E.F., Skinner, F.K., Glen, E.M.T., Glen, A.I.M. (1989). Effects of Essential Fatty Acid Supplementation on Neuropsychological Function in Abstinent Alcoholics. In: Crawford, J.R., Parker, D.M. (eds) Developments in Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9996-5_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9996-5_5
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-9998-9
Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-9996-5
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive