Localized cerebral utilization rates for glucose (CMRglu) were
determined in 10 detoxified patients with alcoholic organic mental
disorders and in 7 age-equivalent normal volunteers using [18F]2-fluoro-
2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography. Although gray and white matter
CMRglu were not significantly different, normalized CMRglu was increased in
the left cerebellar and parietal cortical regions and decreased in the
right posterior white matter and anterior temporal regions of alcoholic
patients, and the pattern of regional CMRglu differed between the two
groups. The results suggest functional disruption of right-sided and
frontal brain regions and hyperactivity of cerebellar-cortical connections
in alcoholic chronic organic mental disorders.
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