EFFECTS OF MRI ABNORMALITIES ON WAIS-R PERFORMANCE IN SOLVENT ABUSERS

To clarify how chronic solvent abuse affects cognitive function using magnetic resonance imaging as an index of brain damage. Material and m ethods - A total of 25 chronic solvent abusers underwent magnetic reso nance imaging with quantitative neurometry and Wechsler Adult Intellig ence Scales revised. Results - The abusers with white matter change (n =10) showed significantly (P<0.05) lower performance IQ, especially in Digit Symbol subtest (P<0.01). Also, the severity of pontine atrophy was significantly correlated with PIQ (r=0.60, P<0.01). Conclusions - These data indicate that solvent abuse causes the decline in the test performance reflecting cognitive and fine motor dysfunction and that w hite matter changes and pontine atrophy may have some roles in this de cline.