Increased Ventral Striatal Volume in College-Aged Binge Drinkers

Abstract

BackgroundBinge drinking is a serious public health issue associated with cognitive, physiological, and anatomical differences from healthy individuals. No studies, however, have reported subcortical grey matter differences in this population. To address this, we compared the grey matter volumes of college-age binge drinkers and healthy controls, focusing on the ventral striatum, hippocampus and amygdala.MethodT1-weighted images of 19 binge drinkers and 19 healthy volunteers were analyzed using voxel-based morphometry. Structural data were also covaried with Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scores. Cluster-extent threshold and small volume corrections were both used to analyze imaging data.ResultsBinge drinkers had significantly larger ventral striatal grey matter volumes compared to controls. There were no between group differences in hippocampal or amygdalar volume. Ventral striatal, amygdalar, and hippocampal volumes were also negatively related to AUDIT scores across groups.ConclusionsOur findings stand in contrast to the lower ventral striatal volume previously observed in more severe forms of alcohol use disorders, suggesting that college-age binge drinkers may represent a distinct population from those groups. These findings may instead represent early sequelae, compensatory effects of repeated binge and withdrawal, or an endophenotypic risk factor.

Family History Density of Alcoholism Relates to Left Nucleus Accumbens Volume in Adolescent Girls

“…In support of the current results, a recent study in heavy drinking young adults showed larger ventral striatum volume in users compared with controls (Howell et al, 2013). The authors of this study suggested that the fi ndings, opposite to what has been reported in alcoholics, could represent a phenotypic risk factor for more severe alcohol-related problems.…”

“…Furthermore, studies have reported gray matter (GM) brain volumetric abnormalities in subcortical regions that encompass reward-related or limbic areas in adult alcoholics (Agartz et al, 1999;Durazzo et al, 2011;Le Berre et al, 2014;Makris et al, 2008;Ozsoy et al, 2013;Sullivan et al, 2005;Wrase et al, 2008), adolescent and young adult heavy drinkers (Howell et al, 2013;Squeglia et al, 2014), and alcohol-dependent youth (De Bellis et al, 2000Nagel et al, 2005). It is possible that some of these subcortical abnormalities could have been present before the onset of heavy alcohol use and may have increased the risk for alcohol dependence.…”

Impacts of Alcoholism in Public Health: A Systematic Review

“…[2013] [102] Howell, NA et al PLoS One 19 binge drinkers and 19 healthy volunteers were analyzed using voxelbased morphometry. Participants were included if they were greater than 18 years old, had no history of regular or current use of other substances, and were free from any major psychiatric disorders.…”

“…There are numerous researches studying individuals throughout the life span that have shown hippocampal anomalies associated with alcohol consumption [102]. Results from a recent longitudinal brain imaging study of male P rats (from P88 to 578) have revealed that free-choice ethanol consumption attenuated the growth and expansion of brain structures, including the corpus callosum and hippocampus [103].…”

Anomalías neurocognitivas asociadas al consumo intensivo de alcohol (binge drinking) en jóvenes y adolescentes: Una revisión

“…Sobre la base de los resultados observados en las mujeres BDs, los autores propusieron que el consumo intensivo de alcohol durante la adolescencia estaba asociado con un retraso en el neurodesarrollo y, por lo tanto, con un mayor espesor cortical. En consonancia con estos resultados, un estudio reciente, procedente de otro grupo de investigación, ha observado mayor volumen de sustancia gris en el estriado ventral o núcleo accumbens (NAcc) en los jóvenes BDs que en los controles, lo que, según los autores, es indicativo de una relativa inmadurez neuroestructural en la población BD (Howell et al, 2013).…”