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Effects of Alcohol on Cognitive Functioning
Credit
CE:1.5
Description
Approximately 17 million adults and 855,000 adolescents had an alcohol use disorder (AUD) in 2012. Deaths related to alcohol are the third leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. Given these statistics, almost all neuropsychologists will be faced at some point with a patient who has an AUD. Understanding both the acute and chronic effects of alcohol on cognitive functioning is a primary objective of this webinar. Recent advances in neuropathophysiology, as well as common findings on neuroimaging and neuropsychological tests are reviewed. The evolution from chronic alcohol use to Wernicke’s encephalopathy to Korsakoff’s syndrome is discussed, along with the effects of alcohol use in special populations, including adolescents and elderly. Risk factors, comorbidity, emerging pharmacotherapies, and cognitive rehabilitation strategies are also highlighted.
After the webinar, participants will be able to:
- Explain cognitive abilities affected by acute and chronic alcohol use.
- Describe the role of thiamine deficiency in cognitive impairment associated with AUDs.
- Differentiate between cognitive profiles of chronic alcohol use and Korsakoff’s syndrome.
- Identify risk factors for AUDs in adolescents.
Instructional Level: Intermediate to Advanced (some prior knowledge of neuroanatomy, neurotransmitter systems, and neuropsychological constructs is expected)