Elsevier

The Lancet

Volume 323, Issue 8384, 5 May 1984, Pages 986-988
The Lancet

INCREASED CEREBRAL VENTRICULAR VOLUME IN MONOZYGOTIC TWINS DISCORDANT FOR ALCOHOLISM

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(84)92326-2Get rights and content

Abstract

21 pairs of monozygotic twins discordant for alcoholism and heavy drinking were examined by computerised tomography. Brain and ventricular volumes were calculated by the use of a semi-automated method with the rater blind to twinship and drinking history. 11 severely dependent alcoholics had larger ventricular volumes and ventricle/brain ratios than did their normal cotwins. These changes correlated best with the length of time the alcoholic twin had been drinking eight centilitres pure alcohol, equivalent to a bottle of wine, a day.

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