ABSTRACT
Neurological disorders are common complications of acute or chronic alcohol abuse. Ethanol and its oxidative metabolite acetaldehyde may directly damage the developing and mature nervous system. Ethanol contains nonnutritive calories, so that heavy drinking is complicated by malnutrition and vitamin deficiency. Thiamine deficiency accelerates ethanol metabolism and the production of acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde in turn reduces the activity of the thiamine-dependent enzyme transketolase by acetylation. Chronic alcohol administration potentiates the lesions of experimental thiamine deficiency and impairs the recovery of function from neural injury of diverse etiologies. Finally, genetic factors affecting the enzyme transketolase may influence the susceptibility of certain alcoholics to develop neurological complications.
