NEUROLOGIC EFFECTS OF ALCOHOLISM

Alcoholism a worldwide disorder, is the cause of a variety of neurolog ic disorders. In this article we discuss the cellular pathophysiology of ethanol addiction and abuse as well as evidence supporting and refu ting the role of inheritance in alcoholism. A genetic marker for alcoh olism has not been identified, but neurophysiologic studies may be pro mising. Some neurologic disorders related to longterm alcoholism are d ue predominantly to inadequate nutrition (the thiamine deficiency that causes Wernicke's encephalopathy), but others appear to involve the n eurotoxicity of ethanol on brain (alcohol withdrawal syndrome and deme ntia) and peripheral nerves (alcoholic neuropathy and myopathy).