Cerebral atrophy and slow wave sleep of abstinent chronic alcoholics.

Although a considerable decrease of slow wave sleep (SWS) has been observed in abstinent chronic alcoholics, the under-lying mechanism is still obscure. In the present study CT scans and polysomnographic recording were repeatedly conducted in nine chronic alcoholics. SWS was remarkably reduced in all the patients, but it was slightly restored in six patients on the 6th month after abstinence. On the other hand, enlargement was observed in the cortical sulci, cerebral fissures and ventricles in these patients. The enlargement of the cortical sulci was improved in five patients, and four of the patients showed increase of SWS. Although enlargement of the cerebral fissures and ventricles was improved in a few patients, in most of the patients who showed improvement in the cortical sulci SWS was increased. The results indicate that the decrease in SWS in abstinent alcoholics may have resulted from the atrophy of the cerebral cortex.