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Mewton L, Visontay R, Hughes G, Browning C, Wen W, Topiwala A, Draper B, Crawford JD, Brodaty H, Sachdev PS. Longitudinal alcohol-related brain changes in older adults: The Sydney Memory and Ageing Study. Addict Biol 2024; 29:e13402. [PMID: 38797559 PMCID: PMC11128337 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Increases in harmful drinking among older adults indicate the need for a more thorough understanding of the relationship between later-life alcohol use and brain health. The current study investigated the relationships between alcohol use and progressive grey and white matter changes in older adults using longitudinal data. A total of 530 participants (aged 70 to 90 years; 46.0% male) were included. Brain outcomes assessed over 6 years included total grey and white matter volume, as well as volume of the hippocampus, thalamus, amygdala, corpus callosum, orbitofrontal cortex and insula. White matter integrity was also investigated. Average alcohol use across the study period was the main exposure of interest. Past-year binge drinking and reduction in drinking from pre-baseline were additional exposures of interest. Within the context of low-level average drinking (averaging 11.7 g per day), higher average amount of alcohol consumed was associated with less atrophy in the left (B = 7.50, pFDR = 0.010) and right (B = 5.98, pFDR = 0.004) thalamus. Past-year binge-drinking was associated with poorer white matter integrity (B = -0.013, pFDR = 0.024). Consuming alcohol more heavily in the past was associated with greater atrophy in anterior (B = -12.73, pFDR = 0.048) and posterior (B = -17.88, pFDR = 0.004) callosal volumes over time. Across alcohol exposures and neuroimaging markers, no other relationships were statistically significant. Within the context of low-level drinking, very few relationships between alcohol use and brain macrostructure were identified. Meanwhile, heavier drinking was negatively associated with white matter integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Mewton
- The Matilda Centre for Mental Health and Substance Use, Faculty of Medicine and HealthUniversity of SydneySydneyAustralia
| | - Rachel Visontay
- The Matilda Centre for Mental Health and Substance Use, Faculty of Medicine and HealthUniversity of SydneySydneyAustralia
| | - Gerard Hughes
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, Faculty of Medicine and HealthUniversity of New South WalesSydneyAustralia
| | - Catherine Browning
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, Faculty of Medicine and HealthUniversity of New South WalesSydneyAustralia
| | - Wei Wen
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, Faculty of Medicine and HealthUniversity of New South WalesSydneyAustralia
| | - Anya Topiwala
- Nuffield Department Population Health, Big Data InstituteUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Brian Draper
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, Faculty of Medicine and HealthUniversity of New South WalesSydneyAustralia
| | - John D. Crawford
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, Faculty of Medicine and HealthUniversity of New South WalesSydneyAustralia
| | - Henry Brodaty
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, Faculty of Medicine and HealthUniversity of New South WalesSydneyAustralia
| | - Perminder S. Sachdev
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, Faculty of Medicine and HealthUniversity of New South WalesSydneyAustralia
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Chen J, Li T, Zhao B, Chen H, Yuan C, Garden GA, Wu G, Zhu H. The interaction effects of age, APOE and common environmental risk factors on human brain structure. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhad472. [PMID: 38112569 PMCID: PMC10793588 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Mounting evidence suggests considerable diversity in brain aging trajectories, primarily arising from the complex interplay between age, genetic, and environmental risk factors, leading to distinct patterns of micro- and macro-cerebral aging. The underlying mechanisms of such effects still remain unclear. We conducted a comprehensive association analysis between cerebral structural measures and prevalent risk factors, using data from 36,969 UK Biobank subjects aged 44-81. Participants were assessed for brain volume, white matter diffusivity, Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotypes, polygenic risk scores, lifestyles, and socioeconomic status. We examined genetic and environmental effects and their interactions with age and sex, and identified 726 signals, with education, alcohol, and smoking affecting most brain regions. Our analysis revealed negative age-APOE-ε4 and positive age-APOE-ε2 interaction effects, respectively, especially in females on the volume of amygdala, positive age-sex-APOE-ε4 interaction on the cerebellar volume, positive age-excessive-alcohol interaction effect on the mean diffusivity of the splenium of the corpus callosum, positive age-healthy-diet interaction effect on the paracentral volume, and negative APOE-ε4-moderate-alcohol interaction effects on the axial diffusivity of the superior fronto-occipital fasciculus. These findings highlight the need of considering age, sex, genetic, and environmental joint effects in elucidating normal or abnormal brain aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Drive, Chapel Hill NC 27514, United States
| | - Tengfei Li
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 101 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, United States
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 125 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Bingxin Zhao
- Department of Statistics and Data Science, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, 265 South 37th Street, 3rd & 4th Floors, Philadelphia, PA 19104-1686, United States
| | - Hui Chen
- School of Public Health, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 866 Yuhangtang Rd, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Changzheng Yuan
- School of Public Health, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 866 Yuhangtang Rd, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue Boston, MA, 02115, United States
| | - Gwenn A Garden
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 170 Manning Drive Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7025, United States
| | - Guorong Wu
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 101 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, United States
- Departments of Statistics and Operations Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 318 E Cameron Ave #3260, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
- Departments of Computer Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 201 South Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 116 Manning Dr, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, 101 Renee Lynne Ct, Carrboro, NC 27510, United States
| | - Hongtu Zhu
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Drive, Chapel Hill NC 27514, United States
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 125 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
- Departments of Statistics and Operations Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 318 E Cameron Ave #3260, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
- Departments of Computer Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 201 South Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
- Departments of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 120 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, United States
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Martínez-Maldonado A, Verdejo-Román J, Sion A, Rubio G, Pérez-García M, Jurado-Barba R. Effect of chronic alcohol consumption on brain structure in males with alcohol use disorder without a familiar history of alcoholism. J Psychiatr Res 2022; 149:210-216. [PMID: 35287051 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Structural brain damages caused by chronic alcohol consumption have been extensively reported. However, the neuroimaging findings in people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) are relatively inconsistent. This inconsistency may be due to the influence of different variables that are not always considered, such as the presence of a family history of alcoholism (FHA). The main aim of this research is to study the gray (GM) and white matter (WM) volumes in male participants with AUD without FHA compared to healthy control males (HC) without FHA. For this study, we included 19 participants with AUD without FHA and 18 HC males without FHA. T1-weighted images were acquired with a General Electric Signa Exite 1.5 T scanner. GM and WM tissues were calculated using Diffeomorphic Anatomical Registration Through Exponentiated Lie algebra (DARTEL). All analyses were controlled for age and total brain volume. The statistical threshold was calculated with AlphaSim and further adjusted to account for the non-isotropic smoothness of structural images, according to Hayasaka et al. (2004). The obtained main results showed that, relative to the HC group, the participants with AUD without FHA had significantly lower GM in several brain structures, reflecting relatively purely the effects of chronic alcohol intake on brain volume. GM structure integrity is relevant for the efficient functioning of low and high-order cognitive processes used in everyday life, and its damage seems to be related to the severity/intensity/chronicity of the AUD. As such, it becomes relevant to assess and follow brain structural changes through the dependence course.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Martínez-Maldonado
- Biomedical Research Institute Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain; Psychology Department, Faculty of Education & Health, Camilo José Cela University, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Juan Verdejo-Román
- The Brain, Mind and Behavior Research Center at the University of Granada, Granada, Spain; School of Psychology, Department of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment, The University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Ana Sion
- Biomedical Research Institute Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gabriel Rubio
- Biomedical Research Institute Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain; Faculty of Medicine, The Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Addictive Diseases Network, C' arlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel Pérez-García
- The Brain, Mind and Behavior Research Center at the University of Granada, Granada, Spain; School of Psychology, Department of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment, The University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Rosa Jurado-Barba
- Biomedical Research Institute Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain; Psychology Department, Faculty of Education & Health, Camilo José Cela University, Madrid, Spain
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Moderate alcohol use is associated with decreased brain volume in early middle age in both sexes. Sci Rep 2020; 10:13998. [PMID: 32814788 PMCID: PMC7438498 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-70910-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim was to examine cross-sectional association between moderate alcohol consumption and total brain volume in a cohort of participants in early middle-age, unconfounded by age-related neuronal change. 353 participants aged 39 to 45 years reported on their alcohol consumption using the AUDIT-C measure. Participants with alcohol abuse were excluded. Brain MRI was analyzed using a fully automated method. Brain volumes were adjusted by intracranial volume expressed as adjusted total brain volume (aTBV). AUDIT-C mean of 3.92 (SD 2.04) indicated moderate consumption. In a linear regression model, alcohol consumption was associated with smaller aTBV (B = - 0.258, p < .001). When sex and current smoking status were added to the model, the association remained significant. Stratified by sex, the association was seen in both males (B = - 0.258, p = 0.003) and females (B = - 0.214, p = 0.011). Adjusted for current smoking, the association remained in males (B = - 0.268, p = 0.003), but not in females. When alcohol consumption increased, total brain volume decreased by 0.2% per one AUDIT-C unit already at 39-45 years of age. Moderate alcohol use is associated with neuronal changes in both males and females suggesting health risks that should not be overlooked.
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5
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Examining the relationship between nutrition and cerebral structural integrity in older adults without dementia. Nutr Res Rev 2018; 32:79-98. [PMID: 30378509 DOI: 10.1017/s0954422418000185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The proportion of adults aged 60 years and over is expected to increase over the coming decades. This ageing of the population represents an important health issue, given that marked reductions to cerebral macro- and microstructural integrity are apparent with increasing age. Reduced cerebral structural integrity in older adults appears to predict poorer cognitive performance, even in the absence of clinical disorders such as dementia. As such, it is becoming increasingly important to identify those factors predicting cerebral structural integrity, especially factors that are modifiable. One such factor is nutritional intake. While the literature is limited, data from available cross-sectional studies indicate that increased intake of nutrients such as B vitamins (for example, B6, B12 and folate), choline, n-3 fatty acids and vitamin D, or increased adherence to prudent whole diets (for example, the Mediterranean diet) predicts greater cerebral structural integrity in older adults. There is even greater scarcity of randomised clinical trials investigating the effects of nutritional supplementation on cerebral structure, though it appears that supplementation with B vitamins (B6, B12 and folic acid) or n-3 fatty acids (DHA or EPA) may be beneficial. The current review presents an overview of available research examining the relationship between key nutrients or adherence to select diets and cerebral structural integrity in dementia-free older adults.
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Lange EH, Nerland S, Jørgensen KN, Mørch-Johnsen L, Nesvåg R, Hartberg CB, Haukvik UK, Osnes K, Melle I, Andreassen OA, Agartz I. Alcohol use is associated with thinner cerebral cortex and larger ventricles in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and healthy controls. Psychol Med 2017; 47:655-668. [PMID: 27830632 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291716002920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Excessive alcohol use is associated with brain damage but less is known about brain effects from moderate alcohol use. Previous findings indicate that patients with severe mental illness, particularly schizophrenia, are vulnerable to alcohol-related brain damage. We investigated the association between levels of alcohol consumption and cortical and subcortical brain structures in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder patients and healthy controls, and investigated for group differences for this association. METHOD 1.5 T structural magnetic resonance images were acquired of 609 alcohol-using participants (165 schizophrenia patients, 172 bipolar disorder patients, 272 healthy controls), mean (s.d.) age 34.2 (9.9) years, 52% men. Past year alcohol use was assessed with the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test - Consumption part (AUDIT-C). General linear models were used to investigate associations between AUDIT-C score and cortical thickness, surface area, and total brain and subcortical volumes. RESULTS Increasing AUDIT-C score was linearly associated with thinner cortex in medial and dorsolateral frontal and parieto-occipital regions, and with larger left lateral ventricle volume. There was no significant interaction between AUDIT-C score and diagnostic group. The findings remained significant after controlling for substance use disorders, antipsychotic medication and illness severity. CONCLUSION The results show a dose-dependent relationship between alcohol use and thinner cortex and ventricular expansion. The findings are present also at lower levels of alcohol consumption and do not differ between schizophrenia or bipolar disorder patients compared to healthy controls. Our results do not support previous findings of increased vulnerability for alcohol-related brain damage in severe mental illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- E H Lange
- Department of Psychiatric Research,Diakonhjemmet Hospital,Oslo,Norway
| | - S Nerland
- Department of Psychiatric Research,Diakonhjemmet Hospital,Oslo,Norway
| | - K N Jørgensen
- Department of Psychiatric Research,Diakonhjemmet Hospital,Oslo,Norway
| | - L Mørch-Johnsen
- Department of Psychiatric Research,Diakonhjemmet Hospital,Oslo,Norway
| | - R Nesvåg
- Department of Psychiatric Research,Diakonhjemmet Hospital,Oslo,Norway
| | - C B Hartberg
- NORMENT and K. G. Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo,Oslo,Norway
| | - U K Haukvik
- Department of Psychiatric Research,Diakonhjemmet Hospital,Oslo,Norway
| | - K Osnes
- Department of Psychiatric Research,Diakonhjemmet Hospital,Oslo,Norway
| | - I Melle
- NORMENT and K. G. Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo,Oslo,Norway
| | - O A Andreassen
- NORMENT and K. G. Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo,Oslo,Norway
| | - I Agartz
- Department of Psychiatric Research,Diakonhjemmet Hospital,Oslo,Norway
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7
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Valizadeh SA, Hänggi J, Mérillat S, Jäncke L. Age prediction on the basis of brain anatomical measures. Hum Brain Mapp 2016; 38:997-1008. [PMID: 27807912 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2016] [Revised: 09/05/2016] [Accepted: 10/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we examined whether age can be predicted on the basis of different anatomical features obtained from a large sample of healthy subjects (n = 3,144). From this sample we obtained different anatomical feature sets: (1) 11 larger brain regions (including cortical volume, thickness, area, subcortical volume, cerebellar volume, etc.), (2) 148 cortical compartmental thickness measures, (3) 148 cortical compartmental area measures, (4) 148 cortical compartmental volume measures, and (5) a combination of the above-mentioned measures. With these anatomical feature sets, we predicted age using 6 statistical techniques (multiple linear regression, ridge regression, neural network, k-nearest neighbourhood, support vector machine, and random forest). We obtained very good age prediction accuracies, with the highest accuracy being R2 = 0.84 (prediction on the basis of a neural network and support vector machine approaches for the entire data set) and the lowest being R2 = 0.40 (prediction on the basis of a k-nearest neighborhood for cortical surface measures). Interestingly, the easy-to-calculate multiple linear regression approach with the 11 large brain compartments resulted in a very good prediction accuracy (R2 = 0.73), whereas the application of the neural network approach for this data set revealed very good age prediction accuracy (R2 = 0.83). Taken together, these results demonstrate that age can be predicted well on the basis of anatomical measures. The neural network approach turned out to be the approach with the best results. In addition, it was evident that good prediction accuracies can be achieved using a small but nevertheless age-representative dataset of brain features. Hum Brain Mapp 38:997-1008, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Valizadeh
- Division Neuropsychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Sensory-Motor System Laboratory, Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - J Hänggi
- Division Neuropsychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - S Mérillat
- Division Neuropsychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland.,International Normal Aging and Plasticity Imaging Center (INAPIC), University of Zurich, Switzerland.,University Research Priority Program (URPP) "Dynamics of Healthy Aging," University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - L Jäncke
- Division Neuropsychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland.,International Normal Aging and Plasticity Imaging Center (INAPIC), University of Zurich, Switzerland.,University Research Priority Program (URPP) "Dynamics of Healthy Aging," University of Zurich, Switzerland
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8
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Herrera-Díaz A, Mendoza-Quiñones R, Melie-Garcia L, Martínez-Montes E, Sanabria-Diaz G, Romero-Quintana Y, Salazar-Guerra I, Carballoso-Acosta M, Caballero-Moreno A. Functional Connectivity and Quantitative EEG in Women with Alcohol Use Disorders: A Resting-State Study. Brain Topogr 2015; 29:368-81. [PMID: 26660886 DOI: 10.1007/s10548-015-0467-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 11/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
This study was aimed at exploring the electroencephalographic features associated with alcohol use disorders (AUD) during a resting-state condition, by using quantitative EEG and Functional Connectivity analyses. In addition, we explored whether EEG functional connectivity is associated with trait impulsivity. Absolute and relative powers and Synchronization Likelihood (SL) as a measure of functional connectivity were analyzed in 15 AUD women and fifteen controls matched in age, gender and education. Correlation analysis between self-report impulsivity as measured by the Barratt impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) and SL values of AUD patients were performed. Our results showed increased absolute and relative beta power in AUD patients compared to matched controls, and reduced functional connectivity in AUD patients predominantly in the beta and alpha bands. Impaired connectivity was distributed at fronto-central and occipito-parietal regions in the alpha band, and over the entire scalp in the beta band. We also found that impaired functional connectivity particularly in alpha band at fronto-central areas was negative correlated with non-planning dimension of impulsivity. These findings suggest that functional brain abnormalities are present in AUD patients and a disruption of resting-state EEG functional connectivity is associated with psychopathological traits of addictive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lester Melie-Garcia
- LREN, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Eduardo Martínez-Montes
- Department of Neuroinformatics, Cuban Neuroscience Center, Havana, Cuba.,Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Gretel Sanabria-Diaz
- LREN, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
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9
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Preti A, Muscio C, Boccardi M, Lorenzi M, de Girolamo G, Frisoni G. Impact of alcohol consumption in healthy adults: a magnetic resonance imaging investigation. Psychiatry Res 2014; 224:96-103. [PMID: 25172407 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2014.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2013] [Revised: 02/17/2014] [Accepted: 06/22/2014] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The impact of alcohol on brain morphology was studied in a large group of cognitively intact people whose consumption of alcohol was below the threshold for abuse. Participants were 367 healthy subjects, aged 18 years or older, who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for reasons other than cognitive impairment. MRI analyses were carried out using SPM8 software on the MATLAB 7.9 platform. Gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) volumes were normalized for intracranial volume. Participants were interviewed about their lifetime consumption of alcohol, nicotine and other available illicit substances. Direct WM and GM comparisons between alcohol users and non-users did not detect significant differences. Differences also did not emerge from multiple regression analyses or in the subgroup aged 65 or older. Based on this study's findings, we cannot infer a detrimental effect of alcohol on the brain of normal adults. These data may be considered to provide reference information for clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Preti
- Genneruxi Medical Center, Cagliari, Italy; IRCCS Centro San Giovanni di Dio-Fatebenefratelli, via Pilastroni 4, 20125 Brescia, Italy
| | - Cristina Muscio
- IRCCS Centro San Giovanni di Dio-Fatebenefratelli, via Pilastroni 4, 20125 Brescia, Italy
| | - Marina Boccardi
- IRCCS Centro San Giovanni di Dio-Fatebenefratelli, via Pilastroni 4, 20125 Brescia, Italy
| | - Marco Lorenzi
- IRCCS Centro San Giovanni di Dio-Fatebenefratelli, via Pilastroni 4, 20125 Brescia, Italy
| | - Giovanni de Girolamo
- IRCCS Centro San Giovanni di Dio-Fatebenefratelli, via Pilastroni 4, 20125 Brescia, Italy
| | - Giovanni Frisoni
- IRCCS Centro San Giovanni di Dio-Fatebenefratelli, via Pilastroni 4, 20125 Brescia, Italy.
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10
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Jäncke L, Mérillat S, Liem F, Hänggi J. Brain size, sex, and the aging brain. Hum Brain Mapp 2014; 36:150-69. [PMID: 25161056 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.22619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2014] [Revised: 07/17/2014] [Accepted: 08/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This study was conducted to examine the statistical influence of brain size on cortical, subcortical, and cerebellar compartmental volumes. This brain size influence was especially studied to delineate interactions with Sex and Age. Here, we studied 856 healthy subjects of which 533 are classified as young and 323 as old. Using an automated segmentation procedure cortical (gray and white matter [GM and WM] including the corpus callosum), cerebellar (GM and WM), and subcortical (thalamus, putamen, pallidum, caudatus, hippocampus, amygdala, and accumbens) volumes were measured and subjected to statistical analyses. These analyses revealed that brain size and age exert substantial statistical influences on nearly all compartmental volumes. Analyzing the raw compartmental volumes replicated the frequently reported Sex differences in compartmental volumes with men showing larger volumes. However, when statistically controlling for brain size Sex differences and Sex × Age interactions practically disappear. Thus, brain size is more important than Sex in explaining interindividual differences in compartmental volumes. The influence of brain size is discussed in the context of an allometric scaling of the compartmental volumes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lutz Jäncke
- Division Neuropsychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland; Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Switzerland; International Normal Aging and Plasticity Imaging Center (INAPIC), University of Zurich, Switzerland; University Research Priority Program (URPP) "Dynamics of Healthy Aging", University of Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Special Education, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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11
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Ruigrok ANV, Salimi-Khorshidi G, Lai MC, Baron-Cohen S, Lombardo MV, Tait RJ, Suckling J. A meta-analysis of sex differences in human brain structure. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2013; 39:34-50. [PMID: 24374381 PMCID: PMC3969295 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 655] [Impact Index Per Article: 59.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2013] [Revised: 12/13/2013] [Accepted: 12/17/2013] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
This is the first meta-analysis of sex differences in the typical human brain. Regional sex differences overlap with areas implicated in psychiatric conditions. The amygdala, hippocampus, planum temporale and insula display sex differences. On average, males have larger brain volumes than females. Most articles providing sex differences in volume are in the ‘mature’ category.
The prevalence, age of onset, and symptomatology of many neuropsychiatric conditions differ between males and females. To understand the causes and consequences of sex differences it is important to establish where they occur in the human brain. We report the first meta-analysis of typical sex differences on global brain volume, a descriptive account of the breakdown of studies of each compartmental volume by six age categories, and whole-brain voxel-wise meta-analyses on brain volume and density. Gaussian-process regression coordinate-based meta-analysis was used to examine sex differences in voxel-based regional volume and density. On average, males have larger total brain volumes than females. Examination of the breakdown of studies providing total volumes by age categories indicated a bias towards the 18–59 year-old category. Regional sex differences in volume and tissue density include the amygdala, hippocampus and insula, areas known to be implicated in sex-biased neuropsychiatric conditions. Together, these results suggest candidate regions for investigating the asymmetric effect that sex has on the developing brain, and for understanding sex-biased neurological and psychiatric conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber N V Ruigrok
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, 18B Trumpington Road, Cambridge CB2 8AH, United Kingdom.
| | - Gholamreza Salimi-Khorshidi
- Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain (FMRIB), Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, United Kingdom
| | - Meng-Chuan Lai
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, 18B Trumpington Road, Cambridge CB2 8AH, United Kingdom; Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1 Jen-Ai Road Section 1, Taipei 10051, Taiwan
| | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, 18B Trumpington Road, Cambridge CB2 8AH, United Kingdom; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Elizabeth House, Fulbourn Hospital, Cambridge CB21 5EF, United Kingdom
| | - Michael V Lombardo
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, 18B Trumpington Road, Cambridge CB2 8AH, United Kingdom; Department of Psychology, University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 20537, CY 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Roger J Tait
- Brain Mapping Unit, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Herchel Smith Building, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0SP, United Kingdom; Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom
| | - John Suckling
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Elizabeth House, Fulbourn Hospital, Cambridge CB21 5EF, United Kingdom; Brain Mapping Unit, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Herchel Smith Building, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0SP, United Kingdom; Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom
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Crews FT, Qin L, Sheedy D, Vetreno RP, Zou J. High mobility group box 1/Toll-like receptor danger signaling increases brain neuroimmune activation in alcohol dependence. Biol Psychiatry 2013; 73:602-12. [PMID: 23206318 PMCID: PMC3602398 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2012.09.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 209] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2012] [Revised: 08/30/2012] [Accepted: 09/19/2012] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Innate immune gene expression is regulated in part through high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), an endogenous proinflammatory cytokine, that activates multiple members of the interleukin-1/Toll-like receptor (TLR) family associated with danger signaling. We investigated expression of HMGB1, TLR2, TLR3, and TLR4 in chronic ethanol-treated mouse brain, postmortem human alcoholic brain, and rat brain slice culture to test the hypothesis that neuroimmune activation in alcoholic brain involves ethanol activation of HMGB1/TLR danger signaling. METHODS Protein levels were assessed using Western blot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and immunohistochemical immunoreactivity (+IR), and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were measured by real time polymerase chain reaction in ethanol-treated mice (5 g/kg/day, intragastric, 10 days + 24 hours), rat brain slice culture, and postmortem human alcoholic brain. RESULTS Ethanol treatment of mice increased brain mRNA and +IR protein expression of HMGB1, TLR2, TLR3, and TLR4. Postmortem human alcoholic brain also showed increased HMGB1, TLR2, TLR3, and TLR4 +IR cells that correlated with lifetime alcohol consumption, as well as each other. Ethanol treatment of brain slice culture released HMGB1 into the media and induced the proinflammatory cytokine, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β). Neutralizing antibodies to HMGB1 and small inhibitory mRNA to HMGB1 or TLR4 blunted ethanol induction of IL-1β. CONCLUSIONS Ethanol-induced HMGB1/TLR signaling contributes to induction of the proinflammatory cytokine, IL-1β. Increased expression of HMGB1, TLR2, TLR3, and TLR4 in alcoholic brain and in mice treated with ethanol suggests that chronic alcohol-induced brain neuroimmune activation occurs through HMGB1/TLR signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fulton T Crews
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, Department of Pharmacology and Psychiatry, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7178, USA.
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13
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de Bruin EA, Lemmens PHHHM, Hulshoff Pol HE, Verbaten MN, Kenemans JL. Relationship between carbohydrate-deficient transferrin, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and mean corpuscular volume levels and alcohol-related brain volume decreases in male drinkers. Hum Psychopharmacol 2012; 27:559-65. [PMID: 23027680 DOI: 10.1002/hup.2264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2011] [Accepted: 09/01/2012] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We investigated the association between mean corpuscular volume (MCV), carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels and gray and white brain matter in male drinkers to find out which if any of these biomarkers of alcohol consumption is indicative for alcohol-related differences in brain volume. METHOD Plasma levels of CDT, GGT, and MCV and magnetic resonance imaging-determined brain gray and white matter volumes were assessed in 55 male drinkers. Current alcohol intake and lifetime alcohol intake were determined by self-report measures. The relationship between MCV, CDT, and GGT and brain volumes was explored using multiple linear regression analyses. RESULTS There was a significant negative relationship between plasma GGT and MCV levels and gray matter volumes. Middle-aged male drinkers with highly elevated GGT and MCV levels (twice the standard deviation above the mean) have 4-12% less parietal and occipital gray matter than males with average GGT and MCV levels. There was no association between CDT levels and brain gray or white matter. CONCLUSIONS Elevated GGT and MCV levels may be indicative of alcohol-related gray-matter decline in male drinkers. The link with GGT may reflect that elevated GGT levels are a sign of increased oxidative stress. The link with MCV levels may reflect a decreased oxygen transport to the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eveline A de Bruin
- Department of Psychopharmacology, Utrecht Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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14
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Kapogiannis D, Kisser J, Davatzikos C, Ferrucci L, Metter J, Resnick S. Alcohol consumption and premotor corpus callosum in older adults. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2012; 22:704-10. [PMID: 22401959 PMCID: PMC3378772 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2012.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2011] [Revised: 10/27/2011] [Accepted: 02/11/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Heavy alcohol consumption is toxic to the brain, especially to the frontal white matter (WM), but whether lesser amounts of alcohol negatively impact the brain WM is unclear. In this study, we examined the relationship between self-reported alcohol consumption and regional WM and grey matter (GM) volume in fifty-six men and thirty-seven women (70+- 7years) cognitively intact participants of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) with no history of alcohol abuse. We used regional analysis of volumes examined in normalized space (RAVENS) maps methodology for WM and GM segmentation and normalization followed by voxel based morphometry (VBM) implemented in SPM8 to examine the cross-sectional association between alcohol consumption and regional WM (and, separately, GM) volume controlling for age, sex, smoking, blood pressure and dietary thiamine intake. WM VBM revealed that in men, but not in women, higher alcohol consumption was associated with lower volume in premotor frontal corpus callosum. This finding suggests that even moderate amounts of alcohol may be detrimental to corpus callosum and white matter integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Kapogiannis
- National Institute on Aging/National Institutes of Health (NIA/NIH), Clinical Research Branch, 3001 South Hanover St., Baltimore, MD, 21225, U.S.A., , Telephone: 410-350-3953, Fax: 410-350-7308
| | - Jason Kisser
- National Institute on Aging/National Institutes of Health (NIA/NIH), Clinical Research Branch, 3001 South Hanover St., Baltimore, MD, 21225, U.S.A., , Telephone: 410-350-3953, Fax: 410-350-7308
| | | | - Luigi Ferrucci
- National Institute on Aging/National Institutes of Health (NIA/NIH), Clinical Research Branch, 3001 South Hanover St., Baltimore, MD, 21225, U.S.A., , Telephone: 410-350-3953, Fax: 410-350-7308
| | - Jeffrey Metter
- National Institute on Aging/National Institutes of Health (NIA/NIH), Clinical Research Branch, 3001 South Hanover St., Baltimore, MD, 21225, U.S.A., , Telephone: 410-350-3953, Fax: 410-350-7308
| | - Susan Resnick
- NIA/NIH, Laboratory of personality and cognition (U.S.A.)
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Qin L, Crews FT. NADPH oxidase and reactive oxygen species contribute to alcohol-induced microglial activation and neurodegeneration. J Neuroinflammation 2012; 9:5. [PMID: 22240163 PMCID: PMC3271961 DOI: 10.1186/1742-2094-9-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 190] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2011] [Accepted: 01/12/2012] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Activation of microglia causes the production of proinflammatory factors and upregulation of NADPH oxidase (NOX) that form reactive oxygen species (ROS) that lead to neurodegeneration. Previously, we reported that 10 daily doses of ethanol treatment induced innate immune genes in brain. In the present study, we investigate the effects of chronic ethanol on activation of NOX and release of ROS, and their contribution to ethanol neurotoxicity. Methods Male C57BL/6 and NF-κB enhanced GFP mice were treated intragastrically with water or ethanol (5 g/kg, i.g., 25% ethanol w/v) daily for 10 days. The effects of chronic ethanol on cell death markers (activated caspase-3 and Fluoro-Jade B), microglial morphology, NOX, ROS and NF-κB were examined using real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry and hydroethidine histochemistry. Also, Fluoro-Jade B staining and NOX gp91phox immunohistochemistry were performed in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) of human postmortem alcoholic brain and human moderate drinking control brain. Results Ethanol treatment of C57BL/6 mice showed increased markers of neuronal death: activated caspase-3 and Fluoro-Jade B positive staining with Neu-N (a neuronal marker) labeling in cortex and dentate gyrus. The OFC of human post-mortem alcoholic brain also showed significantly more Fluoro-Jade B positive cells colocalized with Neu-N, a neuronal marker, compared to the OFC of human moderate drinking control brain, suggesting increased neuronal death in the OFC of human alcoholic brain. Iba1 and GFAP immunohistochemistry showed activated morphology of microglia and astrocytes in ethanol-treated mouse brain. Ethanol treatment increased NF-κB transcription and increased NOX gp91phox at 24 hr after the last ethanol treatment that remained elevated at 1 week. The OFC of human postmortem alcoholic brain also had significant increases in the number of gp91phox + immunoreactive (IR) cells that are colocalized with neuronal, microglial and astrocyte markers. In mouse brain ethanol increased gp91phox expression coincided with increased production of O2- and O2- - derived oxidants. Diphenyleneiodonium (DPI), a NOX inhibitor, reduced markers of neurodegeneration, ROS and microglial activation. Conclusions Ethanol activation of microglia and astrocytes, induction of NOX and production of ROS contribute to chronic ethanol-induced neurotoxicity. NOX-ROS and NF-κB signaling pathways play important roles in chronic ethanol-induced neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liya Qin
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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16
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A longitudinal study of gray matter volume decline with age and modifying factors. Neurobiol Aging 2011; 32:907-15. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2009.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2008] [Revised: 04/10/2009] [Accepted: 05/04/2009] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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17
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Phillips JG, Ogeil RP, Müller F. Alcohol consumption and handwriting: A kinematic analysis. Hum Mov Sci 2009; 28:619-32. [DOI: 10.1016/j.humov.2009.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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18
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Sasaki H, Abe O, Yamasue H, Fukuda R, Yamada H, Takei K, Suga M, Takao H, Kasai K, Aoki S, Ohtomo K. Structural and diffusional brain abnormality related to relatively low level alcohol consumption. Neuroimage 2009; 46:505-10. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2008] [Revised: 01/21/2009] [Accepted: 02/03/2009] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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Abstract
Excessive alcohol use can cause structural and functional abnormalities of the brain and this has significant health, social and economic implications for most countries in the world. Even heavy social drinkers who have no specific neurological or hepatic problems show signs of regional brain damage and cognitive dysfunction. Changes are more severe and other brain regions are damaged in patients who have additional vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency (Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome). Quantitative studies and improvements in neuroimaging have contributed significantly to the documentation of these changes but mechanisms underlying the damage are not understood. A human brain bank targeting alcohol cases has been established in Sydney, Australia, and tissues can be used for structural and molecular studies and to test hypotheses developed from animal models and in vivo studies. The recognition of potentially reversible changes and preventative medical approaches are important public health issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clive Harper
- Department of Pathology, University of Sydney and Sydney South West Area Health Service, Sydney, Australia.
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20
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Sachdev PS, Chen X, Wen W, Anstey KJ. Light to moderate alcohol use is associated with increased cortical gray matter in middle-aged men: a voxel-based morphometric study. Psychiatry Res 2008; 163:61-9. [PMID: 18407470 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2007.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2007] [Revised: 08/22/2007] [Accepted: 08/23/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
We examined the associations of current alcohol consumption with brain morphometric measures in a healthy, community-dwelling cohort. Cranial T1-weighted 3D-structural MRI scans were obtain in 383 adults (men=211) aged 60-64 years, randomly selected form the larger PATH Through Life study. Voxel-based morphometric analyses were applied to detect regional gray matter and white matter volume changes related to reported weekly alcohol consumption (mean 7.04+/-8.15 drinks per week). Alcohol consumption in men had a linear association with greater gray matter in bilateral superior and medial frontal gyrus, bilateral middle occipital gyrus, right inferior parietal gyrus, bilateral precentral gyrus, left paracentral gyrus, left uncus and left inferior occipital gyrus, and with lesser white matter in bilateral superior temporal and left parahippocampal gyrus, after adjustment for age, education, total intracranial volume, smoking, hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia. In women, there was no significant linear association between alcohol consumption and total or regional brain volumes. Our results showed a dose-related, sexually dimorphic impact of alcohol on brain tissue volumes independent of cerebrovascular risk factors. These findings are consistent with an inverse-U association between alcohol use and brain morphometry, while suggesting an increased vulnerability of white matter to alcohol-related brain damage.
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21
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Fleck DE, Nandagopal J, Cerullo MA, Eliassen JC, DelBello MP, Adler CM, Strakowski SM. Morphometric magnetic resonance imaging in psychiatry. Top Magn Reson Imaging 2008; 19:131-142. [PMID: 19363434 DOI: 10.1097/rmr.0b013e3181808152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Although advances in the clinical criteria of various axis I psychiatric disorders are continually being made, there is still considerable overlap in the clinical features, and diagnosis is often challenging. As a result, there has been substantial interest in using morphometric magnetic resonance imaging to better characterize these diseases and inform diagnosis. Region of interest and voxel-based morphometry studies are reviewed herein to examine the extent to which these goals are being met across various psychiatric disorders. It is concluded based on the studies reviewed that specific patterns of regional loss, although present in certain axis I disorders, are not, as yet, diagnostically useful. However, advances in outcome and treatment monitoring show considerably more promise for rapid application in psychiatry.
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Affiliation(s)
- David E Fleck
- Division of Bipolar Disorders Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0559, USA.
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22
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Reid AG, Daglish MRC, Kempton MJ, Williams TM, Watson B, Nutt DJ, Lingford-Hughes AR. Reduced thalamic grey matter volume in opioid dependence is influenced by degree of alcohol use: a voxel-based morphometry study. J Psychopharmacol 2008; 22:7-10. [PMID: 18187528 DOI: 10.1177/0269881107080795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to make a comparison of brain structure between a group of opioid-dependent subjects and healthy controls. We report the results of an ;optimized' voxel-based morphometry study on a sample of nine opioid-dependent subjects with no comorbid substance misuse disorders versus 21 healthy controls. We found a significant reduction in grey matter volume of the thalamus after controlling for age and total grey matter volume. Regression analysis of substance use variables in the opioid-dependent sample shows that only level of alcohol use negatively predicts grey matter volume for this region of difference. We suggest that level of nondependent alcohol use could influence reduced thalamic grey matter volume in opioid-dependent subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alastair G Reid
- Psychopharmacology Unit, University of Bristol, UK. alastair.reid @bristol.ac.uk
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23
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Jang DP, Namkoong K, Kim JJ, Park S, Kim IY, Kim SI, Kim YB, Cho ZH, Lee E. The relationship between brain morphometry and neuropsychological performance in alcohol dependence. Neurosci Lett 2007; 428:21-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2007.09.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2007] [Revised: 09/17/2007] [Accepted: 09/19/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Bijl S, de Bruin EA, Böcker KE, Kenemans JL, Verbaten MN. Effects of chronic drinking on verb generation: an event related potential study. Hum Psychopharmacol 2007; 22:157-66. [PMID: 17397096 DOI: 10.1002/hup.835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
In alcohol dependent individuals, abnormalities in brain functioning have been revealed using event-related potential (ERP) methods. In the present study, we investigated whether in non-alcohol dependent drinkers functioning of the brain is also compromised as a function of recent and lifetime drinking history (LDH). An ERP verb generation task consisting of two conditions (generating verbs describing the use of visually presented nouns versus reading nouns aloud) was used; subtracting ERPs in the latter condition from those in the former should reveal the sequence of brain processes involved in verb generation. Four groups were included, consisting of individuals drinking either lightly, moderately, heavily, or excessively (overall mean age 46.6 years). Participants were sober at the time of testing. Although the excessive group had the highest per cent retrieval errors, there was no continuous relationship between this score and amount of alcohol consumption. However, number of glasses per week affected differential ERPs associated with verb generation both at short (120-220 ms, mid-frontal sites) and at longer latencies (from 700 ms on),left-temporal and right-frontal electrode sites (T7, F6). It is concluded that moderate, heavy, and excessive drinkers, compared to light drinkers, show abnormal brain potentials associated with verb generation over frontal and temporal areas. Moderate to excessive drinking alters some but not all brain processes involved in verb generation. In particular the frontal and temporal brain areas appear to be vulnerable for the effects of chronic lifetime drinking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne Bijl
- Department of Psychopharmacology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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25
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Miller GF, Penke L. The evolution of human intelligence and the coefficient of additive genetic variance in human brain size. INTELLIGENCE 2007. [DOI: 10.1016/j.intell.2006.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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26
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de Bruin EA, Stam CJ, Bijl S, Verbaten MN, Kenemans JL. Moderate-to-heavy alcohol intake is associated with differences in synchronization of brain activity during rest and mental rehearsal. Int J Psychophysiol 2006; 60:304-14. [PMID: 16150505 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2005.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2004] [Revised: 02/17/2005] [Accepted: 07/11/2005] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In alcohol-dependent individuals, synchronization of brain activity is different from that in non-alcohol-dependent individuals as reflected by EEG differences at alpha and beta frequencies (8-30 Hz). These EEG differences may not only be related to long-term alcohol intake but also to genetic factors that are associated with alcohol dependence. Thus, it is not known what the pure effect of long-term alcohol intake on synchronization of brain activity is. Therefore, we investigated whether EEG synchronization differs between light (0.5-6 drinks per week), moderate (7-20 drinks per week), and heavy (21-53 drinks per week) drinkers. All participants (49 males and 47 females) were free of a personal and family history of alcohol dependence. Eyes-closed EEG was recorded at rest and during mental rehearsal of pictures. EEG synchronization was determined by computing Synchronization Likelihood for six frequency bands (0.5-4 Hz, 4-8 Hz, 8-12 Hz, 12-20 Hz, 20-30 Hz, 30-45 Hz). Both male and female heavy drinkers displayed a loss of lateralization in alpha (8-12 Hz) and slow-beta (12-20 Hz) synchronization. In addition, moderately and heavily drinking males had lower fast-beta (20-30 Hz) synchronization than lightly drinking males. It is concluded that both male and female drinkers who drink 21 alcoholic drinks per week or more have impaired synchronization of brain activity during rest and mental rehearsal at alpha and beta frequencies as compared to individuals who drink less. As individuals with a personal or family history of alcohol dependence were excluded, the confounding effects of genetic factors related to alcohol dependence on synchronization of brain activity were minimized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eveline A de Bruin
- Utrecht Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Psychopharmacology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
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27
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Taki Y, Kinomura S, Sato K, Goto R, Inoue K, Okada K, Ono S, Kawashima R, Fukuda H. Both Global Gray Matter Volume and Regional Gray Matter Volume Negatively Correlate with Lifetime Alcohol Intake in Non-Alcohol-Dependent Japanese Men: A Volumetric Analysis and a Voxel-Based Morphometry. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2006; 30:1045-50. [PMID: 16737464 DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2006.00118.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-alcohol-dependent heavy drinkers, as well as alcohol-dependent individuals, show brain atrophy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether there are correlations between global and regional gray matter volumes and the lifetime alcohol intake using volumetric analysis and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) among Japanese non-alcohol-dependent male individuals. METHODS High-resolution three-dimensional magnetic resonance images were acquired from 405 Japanese non-alcohol-dependent male individuals. The collected images were normalized, segmented for volumetric analysis, and additionally smoothed for VBM. For volumetric analysis, the partial correlation coefficient was estimated between the gray matter ratio, which represents the percentage of gray matter volume in the intracranial volume, and the lifetime alcohol intake adjusted for the age of each subject. Multiple regression analysis was performed among regional gray matter volume, lifetime alcohol intake, and age using VBM. RESULTS Volumetric analysis revealed that gray matter ratio showed a negative correlation with the lifetime alcohol intake adjusted for age (p=0.059, partial correlation coefficient=-0.091). The VBM revealed that the gray matter volumes of the bilateral middle frontal gyri showed a significant negative correlation with the lifetime alcohol intake adjusted for age and systolic blood pressure (left side, p=0.006, Z=4.77; right side, p=0.023, Z=4.45, and p=0.046, Z=4.27). CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that non-alcohol-dependent Japanese male individuals show that both global gray matter volume and regional gray matter volume have negative correlations with the lifetime alcohol intake. Our study may contribute to clarifying the mechanism underlying the brain structural changes because of alcohol influence in healthy non-alcohol-dependent individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuyuki Taki
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiology, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
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28
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Bijl S, de Bruin EA, Kenemans JL, Verbaten MN, Böcker KB. Effects of Chronic Alcohol Consumption in a Visual Attention Task and an Auditory Oddball Task: An Event-Related Potential Study. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2005; 29:2029-38. [PMID: 16340461 DOI: 10.1097/01.alc.0000187163.52577.0d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In alcohol-dependent individuals changes in brain functioning, as measured with Event Related Potentials (ERP) have been reported. METHODS In the present study a visual attention and an auditory oddball task were used to investigate possible differences between light, moderate, and heavy social drinkers and excessive drinkers. It was hypothesized that with increasing alcohol intake an increasing number of ERP components elicited in the visual attention task and the auditory oddball task would show diminished amplitudes. RESULTS No differences were found between light, moderate, and heavy social drinkers. A trend for a smaller P3 amplitude in the visual attention task was found when comparing the alcohol-dependent participants with the light social drinkers. It is argued that this difference might be an effect of alcohol dependence and/or a reflection of possible unknown or undetected family history of alcohol-related disturbances. CONCLUSIONS In the current study, even at rather large amounts of regular alcohol intake, no evidence was found for any toxic effect of social alcohol use neither in a visual attention task nor in an auditory oddball task.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne Bijl
- Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Psychopharmacology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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