Impairment of White Matter Microstructure in Alcohol Use Disorders and Its Association With Symptoms.

Abstract

Background: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a global health concern, with alcohol abuse leading to structural damage to white matter (WM) fiber tracts, which are crucial for cognitive and emotional functions. However, existing studies often lack systematic evaluations of these changes and their clinical correlations.

Methods: Using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS), we analyzed diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data from 20 AUD patients and 20 healthy controls. Correlations between fractional anisotropy (FA) values and clinical symptoms, including cognitive dysfunction, depression, and impulsivity, were examined.

Results: AUD patients presented significantly decreased FA values in the right corpus callosum, right fornix, left inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, and left cerebral white matter. The FA peak values of the right fornix and the left cerebral white matter were positively and significantly correlated with cognitive function scores in the AUD group after controlling for smoking status, age, and years of education.

Conclusions: Alcohol abuse significantly impairs WM integrity, particularly in regions related to cognitive and emotional regulation. These findings provide structural evidence for the neurobiological mechanisms of AUD and suggest that FA may serve as a potential biomarker for assessing brain damage, guiding therapeutic interventions.