Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-02T19:07:46.232Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The Relationship between Cognitive Function and Liver Function in Alcoholism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

P. S. Everett*
Affiliation:
The Ipswich Hospital, Ipswich IP4 5PD and St. Clements Hospital, Ipswich

Summary

Thirty alcoholic patients were investigated for evidence of impaired hepatic function and deficits in cognitive functioning, to see if there was any significant relationship between these two complications of alcoholism. Forty-seven per cent had abnormal γ-glutamyl transpeptidase levels, and 63 per cent had abnormal results on the Category test. Only one significant correlation coefficient was found, between one parameter of hepatic function and one of cognitive function. Possible explanations for this (negative) correlation are discussed, and the value of further study is suggested.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © 1984 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Brewer, C. & Perrett, L. (1971) Brain damage due to alcohol consumption: an air-encephalographic, psychometric and electro-encephalographic study. British Journol of Addiction, 66, 170–82.Google Scholar
Fitzhugh, K. B., Fitzhugh, L. C. & Reitan, R. M. (1960) Adaptive abilities and intellectual functioning in hospitalised alcoholics. Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcoholism, 21, 414–23.Google Scholar
Fitzhugh, K. B., Fitzhugh, L. C. & Reitan, R. M. (1965) Adaptive abilities and intellectual functioning of hospitalised alcoholics—further considerations. Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcoholism, 26, 402–11.Google Scholar
Gregory, R. J., Paul, J. & Morrison, M. W. (1979) A short form of the Category Test for adults. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 35 (4), 795–8.Google Scholar
Jones, B. & Parsons, O. A. (1971) Impaired abstracting ability in chronic alcoholics. Archives of General Psychiatry, 24, 71–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kyösola, K. & Salorinne, Y. (1975) Liver biopsy and liver function tests in 28 consecutive long-term alcoholics. Annals of Clinical Research, 7, 80–4.Google Scholar
Lee, K., Møller, L., Hardt, F., Haubek, A. & Jensen, E. (1979) Alcohol-induced brain damage and liver damage in young males. Lancet, 12, 759–61.Google Scholar
Van Waes, L. & Lieber, C. S. (1977) Glutamate dehydrogenase: a reliable marker of liver cell necrosis in the alcoholic. British Medical Journal, ii, 1508–10.Google Scholar
Wernicke, C. (1881) Lehrbuch Gehirnkrankh, 2, 229–42.Google Scholar
Wu, A., Slavin, G. & Levi, A. J. (1976) Elevated scrum gamma glutamyl transferase (tranpeptidase) and histological liver damage in alcoholism. American Journal of Gastroenterology, 65, 318–23.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.