One component of individual risk for alcoholism may involve cognitive vulnerabilities prodromal to alcoholism onset. This prospective study of 198 boys followed between 3 and 14 years of age evaluated neurocognitive functioning across three groups who varied in familial risk for future alcoholism. Measures of intelligence, reward-response, and a battery of neuropsychological executive and cognitive inhibitory measures were used. Executive functioning weaknesses were greater in families with alcoholism but no antisocial comorbidity. IQ and reward-response weaknesses were associated with familial antisocial alcoholism. Executive function effects were clearest for response inhibition, response speed, and symbol-digit modalities. Results suggest that executive deficits are not part of the highest risk, antisocial pathway to alcoholism but that some executive function weaknesses may contribute to a secondary risk pathway.
CITATION STYLE
Nigg, J. T., Poon, E., Fitzgerald, H. E., Glass, J. M., Wong, M. M., Jester, J. M., … Zucker, R. A. (2004). Neuropsychological Executive Functioning in Children at Elevated Risk for Alcoholism: Findings in Early Adolescence. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 113(2), 302–314. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-843X.113.2.302
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