Off alcohol, can 25 of 34 brain regions thicken?
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Can the brain's outer layer thicken again after drinking stops?
In one VA study, MRI scans followed long-term heavy drinkers, mostly veterans, at about 1 week, 1 month and 7.3 months after they stopped.
25 of 34 cortex regions grew thicker, 19 changed faster in the first month, and by 7.3 months 24 matched a group of 45 light drinkers. 10 were still thinner.
That's neuroplasticity: the brain changing as habits change.
Sources
Durazzo TC, Stephens LH, Meyerhoff DJ. Regional cortical thickness recovery with extended abstinence after treatment in those with alcohol use disorder. Alcohol 2024;114:51-60. doi:10.1016/j.alcohol.2023.08.011
What the study says
- “In this study, AUD participants were studied at approximately 1 week (n = 68), 1 month (n = 88), and 7.3 months (n = 40) of abstinence.”
- “AUD participants demonstrated significant linear thickness increases in 25/34 ROI over 7.3 months of abstinence.”
- “The rate of change from 1 week to 1 month was greater than 1 month to 7.3 months in 19/34 ROIs.”
- “After 7.3 months of abstinence, AUD participants were statistically equivalent to CON on cortical thickness in 24/34 ROIs”
- “Of the 88 AUD studied at AP2, 40 maintained continuous abstinence from alcohol and other illicit substances for at least 4 months after AP2 and were again studied after 218 ± 44 days (approximately 7.3 months) of sobriety (AP3).”
Where it falls short
One study, mostly men.
Unaddicted keeps every day you’ve earned, even after a slip.