Abstract Details

Title The Effects of Alcohol Consumption on Cognitive Performance Using the King-Devick Rapid Number Naming Test and the Mobile Universal Lexicon Evaluation System

Topic Neuro-ophthalmology/Neuro-otology

Presentation(s) P1 - Poster Session 1 (5:30 PM-6:30 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 4-004

Objective The objective of this study was to examine the effects of alcohol on cognitive performance with increasing blood alcohol concentration (BAC), as measured by the King-Devick (KD) test and Mobile Universal Lexicon Evaluation System (MULES).

Background Cognitive impairments from alcohol consumption may manifest on tests that assess cognitive function, such as the KD test and MULES. Studies suggest that the threshold for detecting impairment from concussion is 3-seconds on KD testing and 4-seconds on MULES; however, a similar threshold has not been identified for detecting alcohol intoxication.

Design/Methods Eleven subjects (7 females, 4 males; ages 21-39) participated in four, 20-minute blocks of alcohol consumption, 10 minutes of rest with BAC measurement, and KD and MULES testing. The KD and MULES testing focused on performance time, while KD also evaluated the number of saccades/blinks. Women received alcohol (vodka in orange juice) doses of 0.75+/-0.1 g/kg body mass and men received 1.0 +/- 0.1 g/kg body mass.

Results On average, each 20-minute period of consuming alcohol raised BAC by 0.02. There was a statistically significant effect of BAC on both the KD (p<0.001) and MULES (p<0.001) performance times. Specifically, KD times demonstrated a ≥3 sec increase at a BAC of 0.08, while the ≥4 sec threshold was reached at a BAC of 0.06 for the MULES testing. No statistical differences were noted between BAC and saccades or numbers of blinks during the KD test (p>0.05).

Conclusions At a BAC of 0.08, KD test time exceeded 3 seconds, consistent with thresholds used to diagnose concussion. However, the ≥4 seconds threshold was achieved with a BAC of 0.06 for the MULES test. Thus, the MULES test may be a more sensitive measure of alcohol intoxication. Further studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to further characterize changes in testing times resulting from increasing BAC.

Authors/Disclosures
Ali S. Tejani (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center) PRESENTER	No disclosure on file
Bert B. Vargas, MD, FAAN (Eli Lilly and Company)	Dr. Vargas has received personal compensation for serving as an employee of Lilly USA. Dr. Vargas has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for National Football League. Dr. Vargas has or had stock in Eli Lilly. An immediate family member of Dr. Vargas has or had stock in Pfizer.Dr. Vargas has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultant with National Football League. Dr. Vargas has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as a Neurotrauma Consultant with National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing.
Emily Middleton	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file

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