Effects of Acute Alcohol Consumption on the Human Brain: Diffusional Kurtosis Imaging and Arterial Spin-Labeling Study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Brain function and microstructure are affected by alcohol consumption. Until recently, the effect of alcohol on neural mechanisms has not been fully elucidated. Our aim was to explore the acute effects of alcohol on healthy human brains by diffusional kurtosis imaging and 3D arterial spin-labeling and elucidate structural and functional changes in the brain on acute alcohol intake.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Conventional MR imaging, diffusional kurtosis imaging, and 3D arterial spin-labeling were performed on 24 healthy volunteers before and 0.5 and 1 hour after drinking alcohol. Participants were divided into 2 groups according to the response to alcohol: blushing (n = 12) and unblushing (n = 12) groups. Twenty brain regions were analyzed.

RESULTS: Diffusional kurtosis imaging revealed an increase in mean kurtosis and fractional anisotropy at 0.5 hour post-alcohol intake in most brain regions, whereas mean diffusion was decreased in several brain regions at 1 hour after drinking. 3D arterial spin-labeling showed increased cerebral blood flow in most brain regions, particularly in the frontal regions. However, perfusion in the anterior commissure decreased. Regional changes in the brain correlated with various behavioral performances with respect to blush response and sex. In general, blushing individuals and men are more sensitive to alcohol with acute effects.

CONCLUSIONS: Physiologic and microstructural alterations in the brain on alcohol consumption were examined. Brain areas with blood flow alteration detected by 3D arterial spin-labeling were highly consistent with susceptible areas detected by diffusional kurtosis imaging. The current study provides new insight into the effects of alcohol on the brain and behavioral performance in different blush response and sex populations.