Does liver dysfunction explain neuropsychological status in recently detoxified alcohol-dependent clients?

Abstract

In the search for explanation of persistent cognitive impairment associated with alcohol dependence, the possible role of liver disease has aroused considerable interest. However, review of the relevant literature provides only ambiguous support for any general relationship between neuropsychological status and laboratory tests of liver function. We tested the general hypothesis, and also two specific hypotheses relating particular liver function parameters (γ-glutamyl transferase and serum albumin) to mental ability in a sample of 54 recently detoxified alcohol-dependent people. Despite adequate design power, we failed to obtain evidence for general or specific correlations between mental a..