Dataset Information

Gray-matter volume in methamphetamine dependence: cigarette smoking and changes with abstinence from methamphetamine.

ABSTRACT: Group differences in brain structure between methamphetamine-dependent and healthy research participants have been reported, but findings in the literature present discrepancies. Although most methamphetamine-abusing individuals also smoke cigarettes, the effects of smoking on brain structure have not been distinguished from those of methamphetamine. Changes with abstinence from methamphetamine have also been relatively unexplored. This study, therefore, attempted to account for effects of smoking and brief abstinence from methamphetamine on gray-matter measures in methamphetamine-dependent research participants.Gray matter was measured using voxel-based morphometry in three groups: 18 control nonsmokers, 25 control smokers, and 39 methamphetamine-dependent smokers (methamphetamine-abstinent 4-7 days). Subgroups of methamphetamine-dependent and control participants (n=12/group) were scanned twice to determine change in gray matter over the first month of methamphetamine abstinence.Compared with Control Nonsmokers, Control Smokers and Methamphetamine-dependent Smokers had smaller gray-matter volume in the orbitofrontal cortex and caudate nucleus. Methamphetamine-dependent Smokers also had smaller gray-matter volumes in frontal, parietal and temporal cortices than Control Nonsmokers or Smokers, and smaller gray-matter volume in insula than control nonsmokers. Longitudinal assessment revealed gray matter increases in cortical regions (inferior frontal, angular, and superior temporal gyri, precuneus, insula, occipital pole) in methamphetamine-dependent but not control participants; the cerebellum showed a decrease.Gray-matter volume deficits in the orbitofrontal cortex and caudate of methamphetamine-dependent individuals may be in part attributable to cigarette smoking or pre-morbid conditions. Increase in gray matter with methamphetamine abstinence suggests that some gray-matter deficits are partially attributable to methamphetamine abuse.

SUBMITTER: Morales AM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3427723 | biostudies-other | 2012 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Gray-matter volume in methamphetamine dependence: cigarette smoking and changes with abstinence from methamphetamine.

Morales Angelica M AM Lee Buyean B Hellemann Gerhard G O'Neill Joseph J London Edythe D ED

Drug and alcohol dependence 20120322 3

<h4>Background</h4>Group differences in brain structure between methamphetamine-dependent and healthy research participants have been reported, but findings in the literature present discrepancies. Although most methamphetamine-abusing individuals also smoke cigarettes, the effects of smoking on brain structure have not been distinguished from those of methamphetamine. Changes with abstinence from methamphetamine have also been relatively unexplored. This study, therefore, attempted to account f ...[more]

PMID: 22445480

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Project description:OBJECTIVE:Although lower brain volume has been routinely observed in individuals with substance dependence compared with nondependent control subjects, the brain regions exhibiting lower volume have not been consistent across studies. In addition, it is not clear whether a common set of regions are involved in substance dependence regardless of the substance used or whether some brain volume effects are substance specific. Resolution of these issues may contribute to the identification of clinically relevant imaging biomarkers. Using pooled data from 14 countries, the authors sought to identify general and substance-specific associations between dependence and regional brain volumes. METHOD:Brain structure was examined in a mega-analysis of previously published data pooled from 23 laboratories, including 3,240 individuals, 2,140 of whom had substance dependence on one of five substances: alcohol, nicotine, cocaine, methamphetamine, or cannabis. Subcortical volume and cortical thickness in regions defined by FreeSurfer were compared with nondependent control subjects when all sampled substance categories were combined, as well as separately, while controlling for age, sex, imaging site, and total intracranial volume. Because of extensive associations with alcohol dependence, a secondary contrast was also performed for dependence on all substances except alcohol. An optimized split-half strategy was used to assess the reliability of the findings. RESULTS:Lower volume or thickness was observed in many brain regions in individuals with substance dependence. The greatest effects were associated with alcohol use disorder. A set of affected regions related to dependence in general, regardless of the substance, included the insula and the medial orbitofrontal cortex. Furthermore, a support vector machine multivariate classification of regional brain volumes successfully classified individuals with substance dependence on alcohol or nicotine relative to nondependent control subjects. CONCLUSIONS:The results indicate that dependence on a range of different substances shares a common neural substrate and that differential patterns of regional volume could serve as useful biomarkers of dependence on alcohol and nicotine.

Dataset Information

Gray-matter volume in methamphetamine dependence: cigarette smoking and changes with abstinence from methamphetamine.

Publications

Gray-matter volume in methamphetamine dependence: cigarette smoking and changes with abstinence from methamphetamine.

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