Smaller amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex predict escalating stimulant use

Abstract

Drug addiction is a chronic, relapsing brain disorder. The identification of biomarkers that render individuals vulnerable for the transition from occasional drug use to addiction is of key importance to develop early intervention strategies. The aim of the present study was to prospectively assess brain structural markers for escalating drug use in two independent samples of occasional amphetamine-type stimulant users. At baseline occasional users of amphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (cumulative lifetime use ≤10 units) underwent structural brain imaging and were followed up at 12 months and 24 months (Study 1, n = 38; Study 2, n = 28). Structural vulnerability markers for escalating amphetamine-type drug use were examined by comparing baseline grey matter volumes of participants who increased use with those who maintained or reduced use during the follow-up period. Participants in both samples who subsequently increased amphetamine-type drugs use displayed smaller medial prefrontal cortex volumes and, additionally, in the basolateral amygdala (Study 1) and dorsal striatum (Study 2). In both samples the baseline volumes were significantly negatively correlated with stimulant use during the subsequent 12 and 24 months. Additional multiple regression analyses on the pooled data sets revealed some evidence of a compound-specific association between the baseline volume of the left basolateral amygdala and the subsequent use of amphetamine. These findings indicate that smaller brain volumes in fronto-striato-limbic regions implicated in impulsivity and decision-making might render an individual vulnerable for the transition from occasional to escalating amphetamine-type stimulant use.

Effects of naltrexone are influenced by childhood adversity during negative emotional processing in addiction recovery

“…Each ROI was defined using a sphere centered on MNI coordinates obtained from previous studies. 60, 61 Specifically, a sphere with a radius of 5 mm was centered on the right amygdala ( x , y , z : 25,−3,−27), a sphere with a radius of 10 mm was centered on the right mPFC ( x , y , z : 14,62,1) and a sphere with a radius of 8 mm was centered on the right hippocampus ( x , y , z : 29,−14,−14). The different size of the spheres was chosen to reflect the actual size of the regions.…”

Shifted balance of dorsal versus ventral striatal communication with frontal reward and regulatory regions in cannabis‐dependent males

“…Cannabis use patterns and the use of other drugs were assessed using corresponding modules of a structured interview that has been used in previous studies of our group (e.g., Becker et al, 2015;Becker, Wagner, Gouzoulis-Mayfrank, Spuentrup, & Daumann, 2010;Zimmermann, Yao, et al, 2017). Cannabis use patterns and the use of other drugs were assessed using corresponding modules of a structured interview that has been used in previous studies of our group (e.g., Becker et al, 2015;Becker, Wagner, Gouzoulis-Mayfrank, Spuentrup, & Daumann, 2010;Zimmermann, Yao, et al, 2017).…”

“…Previous animal and human research indicate that alterations in striato-frontal circuits(Becker et al, 2015;Ersche et al, 2012;George & Koob, 2010) and associated functional domains such as deficient regulatory control and increased impulsivity (Dalley, Everitt, & Robbins, 2011; Ersche, Turton, Pradhan, Bullmore, & Robbins, 2010) precede the escalation of drug use and represent predisposing risk factors for addiction. The retrospective design of the present study does not allow to disentangle predisposing alterations from neuroplastic changes that accompany the transition to cannabis dependence.…”

Psychomotor Tremor and Proprioceptive Control Problems in Current and Former Stimulant Drug Users: An Accelerometer Study of Heavy Users of Amphetamine, MDMA, and Other Recreational Stimulants

“…Second, participants within the stimulant user groups were typically polydrug users, which is common among the general user population. 7,37 Parrot et al 38 suggest that polydrug use is a significant problem for research into the effects of recreational drugs. It is therefore difficult to ascribe the findings of psychomotor deficit to any one particular drug.…”