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Abush H, Ghose S, Van Enkevort EA, Clementz BA, Pearlson GD, Sweeney JA, Keshavan MS, Tamminga CA, Ivleva EI. Associations between adolescent cannabis use and brain structure in psychosis. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2018; 276:53-64. [PMID: 29628270 PMCID: PMC5959798 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2018.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Revised: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Associations between cannabis use and psychotic disorders suggest that cannabis may be a contributory risk factor in the neurobiology of psychosis. In this study, we examined brain structure characteristics, total and regional gray matter density (GMD), using Voxel Based Morphometry, in psychotic individuals, stratified by history of cannabis use (total n = 109). We also contrasted GMD estimates in individual diagnostic groups (schizophrenia/bipolar I disorder) with and without history of adolescent cannabis use (ACU). Individuals with psychosis as a whole, both with and without history of ACU, had lower total and regional GMD, compared to healthy controls. ACU was associated with attenuated GMD reductions, compared to non-users, especially in the schizophrenia cases, who showed robust GMD reductions in fronto-temporal and parietal cortex, as well as subcortical regions. Notably, total and regional GMD estimates in individuals with psychosis and ACU were not different from controls with no ACU. These data indicate that the history of ACU in psychotic individuals is associated with attenuated GMD abnormalities. Future investigations targeting potential unique etiological and risk factors associated with psychosis in individuals with ACU may help in understanding of the neurobiology of psychotic disorders and novel treatment options for these individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hila Abush
- Department of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas TX, USA
| | - Subroto Ghose
- Department of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas TX, USA
| | | | - Brett A Clementz
- Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, BioImaging Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens GA, USA
| | - Godfrey D Pearlson
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven CT, USA; Institute of Living, Hartford Hospital, Hartford CT, USA
| | - John A Sweeney
- Department of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas TX, USA
| | | | - Carol A Tamminga
- Department of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas TX, USA
| | - Elena I Ivleva
- Department of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas TX, USA.
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Jacobus J, Taylor CT, Gray KM, Meredith LR, Porter AM, Li I, Castro N, Squeglia LM. A multi-site proof-of-concept investigation of computerized approach-avoidance training in adolescent cannabis users. Drug Alcohol Depend 2018; 187:195-204. [PMID: 29679914 PMCID: PMC6053264 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2018] [Revised: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few effective treatment options exist for cannabis-using youth. This pilot study aimed to test Approach-Avoidance Training to reduce cannabis use with non-treatment-seeking adolescents. METHODS Eighty cannabis-using non-treatment-seeking adolescents (average age 19) were recruited from San Diego, California and Charleston, South Carolina, and randomized to complete either six sessions of Cannabis Approach-Avoidance Task Training (CAAT-training) designed to reduce automatic approach biases for cannabis cues or CAAT-sham training. Change in two primary outcome variables was examined: 1) cannabis approach bias and 2) percent cannabis use days over study enrollment. Change in percent alcohol use days over study enrollment was explored as a secondary outcome. RESULTS A mixed models repeated measures analysis confirmed the group by time interaction effect for approach bias failed to reach statistical significance (p = .06). Significant group by time interaction effects (ps < 0.05) predicted percent days of cannabis and alcohol use over study enrollment. Participants randomized to the avoid cannabis condition (CAAT-training) reported 7% fewer days of cannabis use compared to 0% change for sham; unexpectedly, those in the avoid cannabis condition reported 10% percent more alcohol use days compared to 3% more for sham. CONCLUSIONS Computerized cognitive bias modification paradigms may have utility in reducing adolescent cannabis use. Future work should consider developing a paradigm that addresses both cannabis and alcohol, as well as alternative computerized approaches for coping with addictive behavior in conjunction with bias modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Jacobus
- University of California San Diego, Department of Psychiatry, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Charles T Taylor
- University of California San Diego, Department of Psychiatry, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Kevin M Gray
- Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Addiction Sciences Division, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Lindsay R Meredith
- Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Addiction Sciences Division, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Anna M Porter
- Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Addiction Sciences Division, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Irene Li
- University of California San Diego, Department of Psychiatry, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Norma Castro
- University of California San Diego, Department of Psychiatry, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Lindsay M Squeglia
- Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Addiction Sciences Division, Charleston, SC, USA
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Teeuw J, Brouwer RM, Koenis MMG, Swagerman SC, Boomsma DI, Hulshoff Pol HE. Genetic Influences on the Development of Cerebral Cortical Thickness During Childhood and Adolescence in a Dutch Longitudinal Twin Sample: The Brainscale Study. Cereb Cortex 2018; 29:978-993. [DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhy005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jalmar Teeuw
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 5384 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Rachel M Brouwer
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 5384 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Marinka M G Koenis
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 5384 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Suzanne C Swagerman
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Dorret I Boomsma
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Hilleke E Hulshoff Pol
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 5384 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands
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Jones SA, Lueras JM, Nagel BJ. Effects of Binge Drinking on the Developing Brain. Alcohol Res 2018; 39:87-96. [PMID: 30557151 PMCID: PMC6104956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Binge drinking is a pattern of alcohol drinking that raises a person's blood alcohol concentration to at least .08%, which amounts to consuming five alcoholic drinks for men and four alcoholic drinks for women in about 2 hours. It is the most common form of alcohol misuse in adolescents and young adults. Heavy drinking includes the same criterion as binge drinking, but with higher frequency (i.e., 5 or more days in the past 30 days). Although binge drinking or heavy drinking alone is insufficient to meet the criteria for an alcohol use disorder (AUD) diagnosis, there are neurobiological changes, as well as an increased risk of developing an AUD later in life, associated with this form of alcohol misuse. This review describes the recent neuroimaging findings in binge drinking and heavy-drinking adolescents and young adults, a developmental period during which significant neuromaturation occurs.
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Thayer RE, YorkWilliams S, Karoly HC, Sabbineni A, Ewing SF, Bryan AD, Hutchison KE. Structural neuroimaging correlates of alcohol and cannabis use in adolescents and adults. Addiction 2017. [PMID: 28646566 PMCID: PMC5673530 DOI: 10.1111/add.13923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Chronic alcohol use is associated with lower gray matter volume, and we reported recently that alcohol use showed negative associations with widespread gray matter (GM) volume even among young adults. The current study aimed to test the strength of association between (1) alcohol use and GM volume; (2) alcohol use and white matter (WM) integrity; (3) cannabis use and GM volume; and (4) cannabis use and WM integrity among adults and adolescents. DESIGN AND SETTING General linear models within large pooled cross-sectional samples of adolescents and adults who had participated in studies collecting substance use and neuroimaging data in the southwestern United States. PARTICIPANTS The current analysis included adults aged 18-55 years (n = 853) and adolescents aged 14-18 years (n = 439) with a range of alcohol and cannabis use. MEASUREMENTS The dependent variable was GM volume or WM integrity, with key predictors of alcohol use [Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) score] and cannabis use (past 30-day use). FINDINGS Alcohol use showed large clusters of negative associations (ηp2 = 0.028-0.145, P < 0.001) with GM volume among adults and to a lesser extent (one cluster; ηp2 = 0.070, P < 0.05) among adolescents. Large clusters showed significant associations (ηp2 = 0.050-0.124, P < 0.001) of higher alcohol use with poorer WM integrity, whereas adolescents showed no significant associations between alcohol use and WM. No associations were observed between structural measures and past 30-day cannabis use in adults or adolescents. CONCLUSIONS Alcohol use severity is associated with widespread lower gray matter volume and white matter integrity in adults, and with lower gray matter volume in adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel E. Thayer
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
| | - Sophie YorkWilliams
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
| | - Hollis C. Karoly
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
| | - Amithrupa Sabbineni
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
| | | | - Angela D. Bryan
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
| | - Kent E. Hutchison
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
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Abstract
Purpose of the Review Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit substance worldwide. In recent decades, highly concentrated products have flooded the market, and prevalence rates have increased. Gender differences exist in cannabis use, as men have higher prevalence of both cannabis use and cannabis use disorder (CUD), while women progress more rapidly from first use to CUD. This paper reviews findings from preclinical and human studies examining the sex-specific neurobiological underpinnings of cannabis use and CUD, and associations with psychiatric symptoms. Recent Findings Sex differences exist in the endocannabinoid system, in cannabis exposure effects on brain structure and function, and in the co-occurrence of cannabis use with symptoms of anxiety, depression and schizophrenia. In female cannabis users, anxiety symptoms correlate with larger amygdala volume and social anxiety disorder symptoms correlate with CUD symptoms. Female cannabis users are reported to be especially vulnerable to earlier onset of schizophrenia, and mixed trends emerge in the correlation of depressive symptoms with cannabis exposure in females and males. Summary As prevalence of cannabis use may continue to increase given the shifting policy landscape regarding marijuana laws, understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of cannabis exposure in females and males is key. Examining these mechanisms may help inform future research on sex-specific pharmacological and behavioral interventions for women and men with high-risk cannabis use, comorbid psychiatric disease, and CUD.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the existing literature on the relationship between the co-use of cannabis and alcohol including (1) epidemiology, comorbidity, and associated consequences of cannabis and alcohol use disorders; (2) preclinical and clinical laboratory studies examining behavioral pharmacology of cannabis and alcohol co-use; and (3) clinical outcomes related to co-use. RECENT FINDINGS Findings from the literature reviewed suggest that the co-use of alcohol and cannabis is associated with additive performance impairment effects, higher and more frequent consumption levels, increased social and behavioral consequences such as driving while impaired, and greater likelihood of the experiencing comorbid substance use and mental health disorders. Furthermore, co-use may be associated with worse clinical outcomes, yet there are few studies examining the development and evaluation of interventions on reducing the co-use of cannabis and alcohol. SUMMARY There is a need for more rigorous and longitudinal research studies on the co-use of cannabis and alcohol to glean a more complete understanding of the relationship between the two substances. Findings can be used to develop and refine intervention strategies to successfully reduce cannabis and alcohol co-use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali M. Yurasek
- College of Health and Human Performance, Department of Health Education and Behavior, University of Florida, FLG 14, P. O. Box 118210, Gainesville, FL 32611-8210, USA
| | - Elizabeth R. Aston
- Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Jane Metrik
- Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI 02912, USA
- Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, RI 02908, USA
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review summarizes the literature to date that has capitalized on the longitudinal research study framework in order to elucidate the etiology of cannabis use disorders (CUDs). RECENT FINDINGS The studies are mixed with respect to reliable predictors of CUD development. Of the studies outlined, the most consistently indicated risk factors for CUD development include: male sex, past cannabis and other substance use (especially tobacco), and the presence of pre/comorbid psychopathology (especially mood disorders). Social motives and peer involvement may also play a role in this transition. Many of these CUD risk factors appear to be distinct from other factors linked with overall cannabis use. SUMMARY CUD development is likely the product of interactions between biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors. However, many more well-planned and developmentally sensitive prospective studies are needed to identify specific and reliable risk factors for CUD development.
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Camchong J, Lim KO, Kumra S. Adverse Effects of Cannabis on Adolescent Brain Development: A Longitudinal Study. Cereb Cortex 2017; 27:1922-1930. [PMID: 26912785 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhw015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Cannabis is widely perceived as a safe recreational drug and its use is increasing in youth. It is important to understand the implications of cannabis use during childhood and adolescence on brain development. This is the first longitudinal study that compared resting functional connectivity of frontally mediated networks between 43 healthy controls (HCs; 20 females; age M = 16.5 ± 2.7) and 22 treatment-seeking adolescents with cannabis use disorder (CUD; 8 females; age M = 17.6 ± 2.4). Increases in resting functional connectivity between caudal anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and superior frontal gyrus across time were found in HC, but not in CUD. CUD showed a decrease in functional connectivity between caudal ACC and dorsolateral and orbitofrontal cortices across time. Lower functional connectivity between caudal ACC cortex and orbitofrontal cortex at baseline predicted higher amounts of cannabis use during the following 18 months. Finally, high amounts of cannabis use during the 18-month interval predicted lower intelligence quotient and slower cognitive function measured at follow-up. These data provide compelling longitudinal evidence suggesting that repeated exposure to cannabis during adolescence may have detrimental effects on brain resting functional connectivity, intelligence, and cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jazmin Camchong
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Kelvin O Lim
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.,Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Sanjiv Kumra
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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60
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ANGELES CPLEWISDELOS, WILLIAMS PL, HUO Y, WANG SD, UBAN KA, HERTING MM, MALEE K, YOGEV R, CSERNANSKY JG, NICHOLS S, VAN DYKE RB, SOWELL ER, WANG L. Lower total and regional grey matter brain volumes in youth with perinatally-acquired HIV infection: Associations with HIV disease severity, substance use, and cognition. Brain Behav Immun 2017; 62:100-109. [PMID: 28089557 PMCID: PMC5373952 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2017.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Revised: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite improved survival due to combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), youth with perinatally-acquired HIV (PHIV) show cognitive deficits and developmental delay at increased rates. HIV affects the brain during critical periods of development, and the brain may be a persistent reservoir for HIV due to suboptimal blood brain barrier penetration of cART. We conducted structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) and cognitive testing in 40 PHIV youth (mean age=16.7years) recruited from the NIH Pediatric HIV/AIDS Cohort Study (PHACS) who are part of the first generation of PHIV youth surviving into adulthood. Historical and current HIV disease severity and substance use measures were also collected. Total and regional cortical grey matter brain volumes were compared to a group of 334 typically-developing, HIV-unexposed and uninfected youth (frequency-matched for age and sex) from the Pediatric Imaging, Neurocognition, and Genetics (PING) study (mean age=16.1years). PHIV youth had smaller (2.8-5.1%) total and regional grey matter volumes than HIV-unexposed and uninfected youth, with smallest volumes seen among PHIV youth with higher past peak viral load (VL) and recent unsuppressed VL. In PHIV youth, worse cognitive performance correlated with smaller volumes. This pattern of smaller grey matter volumes suggests that PHIV infection may influence brain development and underlie cognitive dysfunction seen in this population. Among PHIV youth, smaller volumes were also linked to substance use (alcohol use: 9.0-13.4%; marijuana use: 10.1-16.0%). In this study, collection of substance use information was limited to the PHIV cohort; future studies should also collect substance use information in controls to further address interactions between HIV and substance use on brain volume.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. Paula LEWIS-DE LOS ANGELES
- Northwestern University Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
| | - Paige L. WILLIAMS
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Yanling HUO
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Shirlene D. WANG
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
| | - Kristina A. UBAN
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Megan M. HERTING
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Kathleen MALEE
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
| | - Ram YOGEV
- Department of Pediatrics, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - John G. CSERNANSKY
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
| | - Sharon NICHOLS
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Russell B. VAN DYKE
- Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA
| | - Elizabeth R. SOWELL
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA,Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Lei WANG
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL,Department of Radiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
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Jaworska N, Cox SM, Casey KF, Boileau I, Cherkasova M, Larcher K, Dagher A, Benkelfat C, Leyton M. Is there a relation between novelty seeking, striatal dopamine release and frontal cortical thickness? PLoS One 2017; 12:e0174219. [PMID: 28346539 PMCID: PMC5367687 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Accepted: 03/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Novelty-seeking (NS) and impulsive personality traits have been proposed to reflect an interplay between fronto-cortical and limbic systems, including the limbic striatum (LS). Although neuroimaging studies have provided some evidence for this, most are comprised of small samples and many report surprisingly large effects given the challenges of trying to relate a snapshot of brain function or structure to an entity as complex as personality. The current work tested a priori hypotheses about associations between striatal dopamine (DA) release, cortical thickness (CT), and NS in a large sample of healthy adults. METHODS Fifty-two healthy adults (45M/7F; age: 23.8±4.93) underwent two positron emission tomography scans with [11C]raclopride (specific for striatal DA D2/3 receptors) with or without amphetamine (0.3 mg/kg, p.o.). Structural magnetic resonance image scans were acquired, as were Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire data. Amphetamine-induced changes in [11C]raclopride binding potential values (ΔBPND) were examined in the limbic, sensorimotor (SMS) and associative (AST) striatum. CT measures, adjusted for whole brain volume, were extracted from the dorsolateral sensorimotor and ventromedial/limbic cortices. RESULTS BPND values were lower in the amphetamine vs. no-drug sessions, with the largest effect in the LS. When comparing low vs. high LS ΔBPND groups (median split), higher NS2 (impulsiveness) scores were found in the high ΔBPND group. Partial correlations (age and gender as covariates) yielded a negative relation between ASTS ΔBPND and sensorimotor CT; trends for inverse associations existed between ΔBPND values in other striatal regions and frontal CT. In other words, the greater the amphetamine-induced striatal DA response, the thinner the frontal cortex. CONCLUSIONS These data expand upon previously reported associations between striatal DA release in the LS and both NS related impulsiveness and CT in the largest sample reported to date. The findings add to the plausibility of these associations while suggesting that the effects are likely weaker than has been previously proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Jaworska
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Institue of Mental Health Research, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sylvia M. Cox
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Kevin F. Casey
- Le Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Sainte-Justine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Isabelle Boileau
- Centre for Addiction & Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mariya Cherkasova
- University of British Columbia, Division of Neurology, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kevin Larcher
- Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI), McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Alain Dagher
- Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI), McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Chawki Benkelfat
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Marco Leyton
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- * E-mail:
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62
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Meda SA, Gueorguieva RV, Pittman B, Rosen RR, Aslanzadeh F, Tennen H, Leen S, Hawkins K, Raskin S, Wood RM, Austad CS, Dager A, Fallahi C, Pearlson GD. Longitudinal influence of alcohol and marijuana use on academic performance in college students. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0172213. [PMID: 28273162 PMCID: PMC5342177 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2016] [Accepted: 02/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcohol and marijuana are the two most abused substances in US colleges. However, research on the combined influence (cross sectional or longitudinal) of these substances on academic performance is currently scant. METHODS Data were derived from the longitudinal 2-year Brain and Alcohol Research in College Students (BARCS) study including 1142 freshman students who completed monthly marijuana use and alcohol consumption surveys. Subjects were classified into data-driven groups based on their alcohol and marijuana consumption. A linear mixed-model (LMM) was employed using this grouping factor to predict grade point average (GPA), adjusted for a variety of socio-demographic and clinical factors. RESULTS Three data-driven clusters emerged: 1) No/low users of both, 2) medium-high alcohol/no-low marijuana, and 3) medium-high users of both substances. Individual cluster derivations between consecutive semesters remained stable. No significant interaction between clusters and semester (time) was noted. Post-hoc analysis suggest that at the outset, compared to sober peers, students using moderate to high levels of alcohol and low marijuana demonstrate lower GPAs, but this difference becomes non-significant over time. In contrast, students consuming both substances at moderate-to-high levels score significantly lower at both the outset and across the 2-year investigation period. Our follow-up analysis also indicate that when students curtailed their substance use over time they had significantly higher academic GPA compared to those who remained stable in their substance use patterns over the two year period. CONCLUSIONS Overall, our study validates and extends the current literature by providing important implications of concurrent alcohol and marijuana use on academic achievement in college.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shashwath A. Meda
- Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Hartford HealthCare Corporation, Hartford, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Ralitza V. Gueorguieva
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Brian Pittman
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Rivkah R. Rosen
- Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Hartford HealthCare Corporation, Hartford, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Farah Aslanzadeh
- Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Hartford HealthCare Corporation, Hartford, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Howard Tennen
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Samantha Leen
- Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Hartford HealthCare Corporation, Hartford, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Keith Hawkins
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Sarah Raskin
- Department of Community Medicine, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Rebecca M. Wood
- Department of Psychology, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Carol S. Austad
- Department of Psychology, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Alecia Dager
- Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Hartford HealthCare Corporation, Hartford, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Carolyn Fallahi
- Department of Psychology, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Godfrey D. Pearlson
- Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Hartford HealthCare Corporation, Hartford, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Neurobiology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
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63
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Meruelo AD, Castro N, Cota CI, Tapert SF. Cannabis and alcohol use, and the developing brain. Behav Brain Res 2017; 325:44-50. [PMID: 28223098 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.02.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2016] [Revised: 02/12/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Sex hormones and white (and grey) matter in the limbic system, cortex and other brain regions undergo changes during adolescence. Some of these changes include ongoing white matter myelination and sexually dimorphic features in grey and white matter. Adolescence is also a period of vulnerability when many are first exposed to alcohol and cannabis, which appear to influence the developing brain. Neuropsychological studies have provided considerable understanding of the effects of alcohol and cannabis on the brain. Advances in neuroimaging have allowed examination of neuroanatomic changes, metabolic and neurotransmitter activity, and neuronal activation during adolescent brain development and substance use. In this review, we examine major differences in brain development between users and non-users, and recent findings on the influence of cannabis and alcohol on the adolescent brain. We also discuss associations that appear to resolve following short-term abstinence, and attentional deficits that appear to persist. These findings can be useful in guiding earlier educational interventions for adolescents, and clarifying the neural sequelae of early alcohol and cannabis use to the general public.
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Affiliation(s)
- A D Meruelo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego,9500 Gilman Drive, CA La Jolla 92093, USA.
| | - N Castro
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego,9500 Gilman Drive, CA La Jolla 92093, USA.
| | - C I Cota
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego,9500 Gilman Drive, CA La Jolla 92093, USA.
| | - S F Tapert
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego,9500 Gilman Drive, CA La Jolla 92093, USA.
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Analysis of alcohol use disorders from the Nathan Kline Institute-Rockland Sample: Correlation of brain cortical thickness with neuroticism. Drug Alcohol Depend 2017; 170:66-73. [PMID: 27875803 PMCID: PMC5183556 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.10.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Revised: 10/20/2016] [Accepted: 10/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although differences in both neuroanatomical measures and personality traits, in particular neuroticism, have been associated with alcohol use disorders (AUD), whether lifetime AUD diagnosis alters the relationship between neuroticism and neuroanatomical structures remains to be determined. METHODS Data from 65 patients with lifetime AUD diagnoses and 65 healthy comparisons (HC) group-matched on age, sex and race were extracted from the Nathan Kline Institute - Rockland Sample data set. Each subject completed personality trait measures and underwent MRI scanning. Cortical thickness measures at 68 Desikan-Killiany Atlas regions were obtained using FreeSurfer 5.3.0. Regression analyses were performed to identify brain regions at which the neuroticism-cortical thickness relationship was altered by lifetime AUD status. RESULTS As expected, AUDs had higher neuroticism scores than HCs. Correlations between neuroticism and cortical thickness in the left insula and right fusiform differed significantly across groups. Higher neuroticism score in AUD and the interaction between the insular cortical thickness-neuroticism correlation and AUD status were confirmed in a replication study using the Human Connectome Project data set. CONCLUSIONS Results confirmed the relationship between neuroticism and AUD and suggests that specific cortical regions, particularly the left insula, represent anatomic substrates underlying this association in AUD.
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Thames AD, Kuhn TP, Williamson TJ, Jones JD, Mahmood Z, Hammond A. Marijuana effects on changes in brain structure and cognitive function among HIV+ and HIV- adults. Drug Alcohol Depend 2017; 170:120-127. [PMID: 27889592 PMCID: PMC5240153 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2016] [Revised: 11/08/2016] [Accepted: 11/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The current study examined the independent and interactive effects of HIV and marijuana (MJ) use on brain structure and cognitive function among a sample of HIV-positive (HIV+) and HIV-negative (HIV-) individuals. METHODS Participants (HIV+, n=48; HIV-, n=29) individuals underwent cognitive testing, questionnaires about substance use, and brain MRI. The HIV+ group was clinically stable based upon current plasma CD4 count, 50% had undetectable viral load (i.e.,<20 copies/mL), and all were on a stable regimen of cART. RESULTS For HIV+ and HIV- participants, higher levels of MJ use were associated with smaller volumes in the entorhinal cortex and fusiform gyrus. HIV status (but not MJ use) was associated with cingulate thickness, such that HIV+ participants evidenced smaller thickness of the cingulate, as compared to HIV- controls. Regarding neurocognitive functioning, there was a HIV*MJ interactive effect on global cognition, such that when the amount of MJ use was less than 1.43g per week, the HIV- group displayed significantly better neurocognitive performance than the HIV+ group (t=3.14, p=0.002). However, when MJ use reached 1.43g per week, there were no significant HIV group differences in global cognitive performance (t=1.39, p=0.168). CONCLUSIONS Our results show independent and interactive effects of HIV and MJ on brain structure and cognition. However, our results do not support that HIV+ MJ users are at greater risk for adverse brain or cognitive outcomes compared to HIV- MJ users.
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Affiliation(s)
- April D Thames
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, 740 Westwood Plaza 28-263, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
| | - Taylor P Kuhn
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, 740 Westwood Plaza 28-263, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Timothy J Williamson
- Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, Franz Hall, 502 Portola Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Jacob D Jones
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, 740 Westwood Plaza 28-263, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Zanjbeel Mahmood
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, 740 Westwood Plaza 28-263, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Andrea Hammond
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, 740 Westwood Plaza 28-263, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Psychology, California State University, Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA 91330, USA
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66
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Jacobus J, Castro N, Squeglia LM, Meloy M, Brumback T, Huestis MA, Tapert SF. Reprint of “Adolescent cortical thickness pre- and post marijuana and alcohol initiation”. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2016; 58:78-87. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2016.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Revised: 08/30/2016] [Accepted: 09/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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67
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van Son D, Wiers RW, Catena A, Perez-Garcia M, Verdejo-García A. White matter disruptions in male cocaine polysubstance users: Associations with severity of drug use and duration of abstinence. Drug Alcohol Depend 2016; 168:247-254. [PMID: 27736678 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2016] [Revised: 09/14/2016] [Accepted: 09/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cocaine dependence has been associated with alterations in the brain's white matter integrity, yet relevant questions remain about what alterations are linked to cocaine use and/or polysubstance use, and whether they are amenable to abstinence. METHODS This study applied a single measurement session of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to examine white matter structure in male cocaine polysubstance users (n=37) versus male healthy controls (n=38), along with correlations between DTI measures and patterns of polysubstance use and duration of abstinence. Specifically, we conducted voxel-wise analyses of fractional anisotropy (FA) in the corpus callosum, frontolimbic, striatal and cingulate tracts relevant to drug sequelae. RESULTS Cocaine polysubstance users, compared to controls, showed lower FA in the body of the corpus callosum, anterior cingulate, uncinate fasciculus and retrolenticular part of the internal capsule. Duration of cocaine use had a marginal negative association with FA in the corpus callosum, and duration of alcohol use was negatively associated with FA in the internal capsule and the uncinate fasciculus. Duration of cocaine abstinence was positively correlated with FA in the uncinate fasciculus, posterior cingulate and fornix-striatum. In the context of cocaine polysubstance use, chronicity of cocaine use is therefore likely to be associated with lower FA in the corpus callosum, and chronicity of alcohol use with lower FA in the frontal-striatal and frontal-limbic tracts. Longer abstinence was correlated to greater FA in frontal-striatal and frontal-limbic tracts, though the direction of causality remains unclear. CONCLUSION Since the results did not survive multiple comparison-corrected thresholds, more studies are needed to confirm these indications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana van Son
- Addiction, Development and Psychopathology (ADAPT) lab, Dept. of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Reinout W Wiers
- Addiction, Development and Psychopathology (ADAPT) lab, Dept. of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Andrés Catena
- Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Miguel Perez-Garcia
- Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Antonio Verdejo-García
- Red de Trastornos Adictivos & Institute of Neurosciences F. Olóriz, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain; School of Psychological Sciences and Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, Monash University, Australia
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Jacobus J, Castro N, Squeglia LM, Meloy MJ, Brumback T, Huestis MA, Tapert SF. Adolescent cortical thickness pre- and post marijuana and alcohol initiation. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2016; 57:20-29. [PMID: 27687470 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2016.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Revised: 08/30/2016] [Accepted: 09/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Cortical thickness abnormalities have been identified in youth using both alcohol and marijuana. However, limited studies have followed individuals pre- and post initiation of alcohol and marijuana use to help identify to what extent discrepancies in structural brain integrity are pre-existing or substance-related. Adolescents (N=69) were followed from ages 13 (pre-initiation of substance use, baseline) to ages 19 (post-initiation, follow-up). Three subgroups were identified, participants that initiated alcohol use (ALC, n=23, >20 alcohol use episodes), those that initiated both alcohol and marijuana use (ALC+MJ, n=23, >50 marijuana use episodes) and individuals that did not initiate either substance regularly by follow-up (CON, n=23, <3 alcohol use episodes, no marijuana use episodes). All adolescents underwent neurocognitive testing, neuroimaging, and substance use and mental health interviews. Significant group by time interactions and main effects on cortical thickness estimates were identified for 18 cortical regions spanning the left and right hemisphere (ps<0.05). The vast majority of findings suggest a more substantial decrease, or within-subjects effect, in cortical thickness by follow-up for individuals who have not initiated regular substance use or alcohol use only by age 19; modest between-group differences were identified at baseline in several cortical regions (ALC and CON>ALC+MJ). Minimal neurocognitive differences were observed in this sample. Findings suggest pre-existing neural differences prior to marijuana use may contribute to initiation of use and observed neural outcomes. Marijuana use may also interfere with thinning trajectories that contribute to morphological differences in young adulthood that are often observed in cross-sectional studies of heavy marijuana users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Jacobus
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA, USA; University of California San Diego, Department of Psychiatry, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Norma Castro
- University of California San Diego, Department of Psychiatry, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Lindsay M Squeglia
- Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - M J Meloy
- University of California San Diego, Department of Psychiatry, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ty Brumback
- University of California San Diego, Department of Psychiatry, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Susan F Tapert
- University of California San Diego, Department of Psychiatry, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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Brumback T, Castro N, Jacobus J, Tapert S. Effects of Marijuana Use on Brain Structure and Function: Neuroimaging Findings from a Neurodevelopmental Perspective. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2016; 129:33-65. [PMID: 27503447 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2016.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Marijuana, behind only tobacco and alcohol, is the most popular recreational drug in America with prevalence rates of use rising over the past decade. A wide range of research has highlighted neurocognitive deficits associated with marijuana use, particularly when initiated during childhood or adolescence. Neuroimaging, describing alterations to brain structure and function, has begun to provide a picture of possible mechanisms associated with the deleterious effects of marijuana use. This chapter provides a neurodevelopmental framework from which recent data on brain structural and functional abnormalities associated with marijuana use is reviewed. Based on the current data, we provide aims for future studies to more clearly delineate the effects of marijuana on the developing brain and to define underlying mechanisms of the potential long-term negative consequences of marijuana use.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Brumback
- University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States; VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, United States.
| | - N Castro
- University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - J Jacobus
- University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States; VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - S Tapert
- University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
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Silveri MM, Dager AD, Cohen-Gilbert JE, Sneider JT. Neurobiological signatures associated with alcohol and drug use in the human adolescent brain. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016; 70:244-259. [PMID: 27377691 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.06.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2016] [Revised: 06/17/2016] [Accepted: 06/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Magnetic resonance (MR) techniques provide opportunities to non-invasively characterize neurobiological milestones of adolescent brain development. Juxtaposed to the critical finalization of brain development is initiation of alcohol and substance use, and increased frequency and quantity of use, patterns that can lead to abuse and addiction. This review provides a comprehensive overview of existing MR studies of adolescent alcohol and drug users. The most common alterations reported across substance used and MR modalities are in the frontal lobe (63% of published studies). This is not surprising, given that this is the last region to reach neurobiological adulthood. Comparatively, evidence is less consistent regarding alterations in regions that mature earlier (e.g., amygdala, hippocampus), however newer techniques now permit investigations beyond regional approaches that are uncovering network-level vulnerabilities. Regardless of whether neurobiological signatures exist prior to the initiation of use, this body of work provides important direction for ongoing prospective investigations of adolescent brain development, and the significant impact of alcohol and substance use on the brain during the second decade of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa M Silveri
- Neurodevelopmental Laboratory on Addictions and Mental Health, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA; McLean Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Alecia D Dager
- Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Hartford, CT, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Julia E Cohen-Gilbert
- Neurodevelopmental Laboratory on Addictions and Mental Health, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA; McLean Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jennifer T Sneider
- Neurodevelopmental Laboratory on Addictions and Mental Health, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA; McLean Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Herting MM, Keenan MF, Nagel BJ. Aerobic Fitness Linked to Cortical Brain Development in Adolescent Males: Preliminary Findings Suggest a Possible Role of BDNF Genotype. Front Hum Neurosci 2016; 10:327. [PMID: 27445764 PMCID: PMC4928533 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Aerobic exercise has been shown to impact brain structure and cognition in children and adults. Exercise-induced activation of a growth protein known as brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is thought to contribute to such relationships. To date, however, no study has examined how aerobic fitness relates to cortical brain structure during development and if BDNF genotype moderates these relationships. Using structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and FreeSurfer, the current study examined how aerobic fitness relates to volume, thickness, and surface area in 34 male adolescents, 15 to 18 years old. Moreover, we examined if the val66met BDNF genotype moderated these relationships. We hypothesized that aerobic fitness would relate to greater thickness and volumes in frontal, parietal, and motor regions, and that these relationships would be less robust in individuals carrying a Met allele, since this genotype leads to lower BDNF expression. We found that aerobic fitness positively related to right rostral middle frontal cortical volume in all adolescents. However, results also showed BDNF genotype moderated the relationship between aerobic fitness and bilateral medial precuneus surface area, with a positive relationship seen in individuals with the Val/Val allele, but no relationship detected in those adolescents carrying a Met allele. Lastly, using self-reported levels of aerobic activity, we found that higher-fit adolescents showed larger right medial pericalcarine, right cuneus and left precuneus surface areas as compared to their low-fit peers. Our findings suggest that aerobic fitness is linked to cortical brain development in male adolescents, and that more research is warranted to determine how an individual’s genes may influence these relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan M Herting
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Madison F Keenan
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Bonnie J Nagel
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University Portland, OR, USA
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Abstract
Adolescence is an important neurodevelopmental period marked by rapidly escalating rates of alcohol and drug use. Over the past decade, research has attempted to disentangle pre- and post-substance use effects on brain development by using sophisticated longitudinal designs. This review focuses on recent, prospective studies and addresses the following important questions: (1) what neuropsychological and neural features predate adolescent substance use, making youth more vulnerable to engage in heavy alcohol or drug use, and (2) how does heavy alcohol and drug use affect normal neural development and cognitive functioning? Findings suggest that pre-existing neural features that relate to increased substance use during adolescence include poorer neuropsychological functioning on tests of inhibition and working memory, smaller gray and white matter volume, changes in white matter integrity, and altered brain activation during inhibition, working memory, reward, and resting state. After substance use is initiated, alcohol and marijuana use are associated with poorer cognitive functioning on tests of verbal memory, visuospatial functioning, psychomotor speed, working memory, attention, cognitive control, and overall IQ. Heavy alcohol use during adolescence is related to accelerated decreases in gray matter and attenuated increases in white matter volume, as well as increased brain activation during tasks of inhibition and working memory, relative to controls. Larger longitudinal studies with more diverse samples are needed to better understand the interactive effects of alcohol, marijuana, and other substances, as well as the role of sex, co-occurring psychopathology, genetics, sleep, and age of initiation on substance use.
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73
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Conrod PJ, Nikolaou K. Annual Research Review: On the developmental neuropsychology of substance use disorders. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2016; 57:371-94. [PMID: 26889898 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.12516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adolescence represents a period of development during which critical biological, as well as social and cognitive, changes occur that are necessary for the transition into adulthood. A number of researchers have suggested that the pattern of normative brain changes that occurs during this period not only predisposes adolescents to engage in risk behaviours, such as experimentation with drugs, but that they additionally make the adolescent brain more vulnerable to the direct pharmacological impact of substances of abuse. The neural circuits that we examine in this review involve cortico-basal-ganglia/limbic networks implicated in the processing of rewards, emotion regulation, and the control of behaviour, emotion and cognition. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS We identify certain neurocognitive and personality/comorbidity-based risk factors for the onset of substance misuse during adolescence, and summarise the evidence suggesting that these risk factors may be further impacted by the direct effect of drugs on the underlying neural circuits implicated in substance misuse vulnerability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia J Conrod
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.,Centre de recherche CHU Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Canada.,Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Kings College London, London, UK
| | - Kyriaki Nikolaou
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Kings College London, London, UK.,Addiction Development and Psychopathology (ADAPT) Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Abstract
There is extensive research on the safety, toxicology, potency, and therapeutic potential of cannabis. However, uncertainty remains facilitating continued debate on medical and recreational cannabis policies at the state and federal levels. This review will include a brief description of cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system; a summary of the acute and long-term effects of cannabis; and a discussion of the therapeutic potential of cannabis. The conclusions about safety and efficacy will then be compared with the current social and political climate to suggest future policy directions and general guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Sachs
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, 383 Colorow Drive, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108, USA.
| | - Erin McGlade
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, 383 Colorow Drive, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108, USA
| | - Deborah Yurgelun-Todd
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, 383 Colorow Drive, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108, USA
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