Effects of congener and noncongener alcoholic beverages on a clinical ataxia test battery
Schroeder, D.J.; Collins, W.E.
Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine 50(9): 879-887
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0095-6562 PMID: 496757 Document Number: 141662
As a screening procedure in aviation medicine, clinical examiners often use one or more tests of standing steadiness or gait to help assess neurological and vestibular soundness. Normal functioning of these mechanisms associated with proper body orientation has been traditionally regarded as critical to safety in piloting aircraft. The ingestion of alcohol can disturb postural measures, and it is possible that the effects of alcohol may be manifested at significant stages subsequent to acute intoxication, i.e., during so-called hangover periods. This study was designed to investigate the performance of normally heavy and normally light young male drinkers on an ataxia test battery before and after they drank either a high-congener (bourbon) or low-congener (vodka) alcoholic beverage. To assess possible long-term effects of alcohol, testing was conducted 1, 3, 5, 9, 24 and 32 h after drinking. With the exception of 1 walking test that showed inferior performance 1 h after drinking and recovery thereafter, the measures of the ataxia test battery were about equally affected, showing decrements from 1-3 h after drinking and a return to a normal plateau by the fifth postdrinking h. Normally heavy drinkers tended to display less ataxia following drinking than did normally light drinkers. Comparisons of the low- and high-congener beverages failed to reveal any significant differential effects. There were also no indications of any significant impairment on ataxia tests during the hangover period.