Conformity between Brain structures and Neuropsychological tests in Methamphetamine Abusers
Artit Rodkong1, Nuttawadee Intachai1, Suwit Saekho1,2, Apinun Aramrattana3, Kanok Uttawichai4, Mekkla Thomson5, Bangorn Sirirojn6, Daralak Thavornprasit6, Sineenart Taejaroenkul6, Kamolrawee Sintupat6, Victor Valcour7, Robert Paul8, and Napapon Sailasuta9

1Radiological Technology, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 2Biomedical Engineering Center, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 3Family Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 4Thanyarak Hospital, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 5Westat, Rockville, MD, United States, 6Research Institute for Health Sciences, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 7Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States, 8Psychology, University of Missouri, St. Louis, MO, United States, 9Huntington Medical Research Institute, Pasadena, CA, United States

Synopsis

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies show evidence of brain alteration in Methamphetamine (MA) users. We compare brain structures including gray matter (GM), white matter (WM) and cortical thickness between MA abusers and Healthy control (HC) group, and explore relationship between brain structures and neuropsychological performance (NP) in MA compared with HC. The results demonstrated that MA group revealed poorer cognitive function and reduced volumetrics in critical brain regions that underlie cognitive performance compared to that of the HC group.

Purpose:

Methamphetamine (MA) is a powerful addictive stimulant drug affecting with direct impact on the brain. MA damages dopaminergic (DA) 1 and serotonergic systems 2 and may lead to cognitive impairment 3 and alterations in frontal lobe and subcortical brain structures 4. Previous studies report inconsistent results in terms of brain volume between MA and healthy control (HC) groups 5-8. This study aimed to compare the brain structures including volume of gray matter (GM), white matter (WM) and the cortical thickness between MA and HC groups, and explore the relationship between brain structures and neuropsychological performance (NP) in MA compared with HC.

Methods:

Nineteen MA abusers (mean age 25.05 ± 4.81, range = 18-34 years) and 20 HCs (mean age 24.35±4.63, range = 18-35 years) were included. The study was approved by the local institutional review board. The inclusion criteria for MA subjects included single MA drug user for at least 12 months and regular use at least 4 times per week. Brain MRI scans were acquired on a 1.5 MR Scanner. Segmentation of cortical regional structure volume and cortical mapping as completed using FreeSurfer (FS) version 5.3. Participants completed Time Gait, Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R), Grooved pegboard, Finger Tapping, Stroop Interference task, Color Trails, Semantic fluency and a test of overall intelligence. Significant group differences on the NP tests were further investigated with regard to regional volume and cortical thickness.

Results:

Results revealed significantly smaller volumes of frontal GM, right precentral of WM (Figure 1) and significantly thinner cortical thickness of the frontal lobes (Figure 2) among MA compared to HC. Brain volumes correlated with poorer performances on HVLT-R learning, intelligence, and Grooved pegboard non dominant hand among the MA group (Table 1).

Discussion and conclusion:

MA is associated with poorer cognitive function and reduced volumetrics in critical brain regions that underlie cognitive performance 9. These results emphasize the deleterious effects of MA on brain integrity, and define a cognitive and imaging phenotype associated with chronic MA use.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), USA. Grant#: R21 DA033024-01A1

References

1. Kuczenski R, Everall IP, Crews L, et al. Escalating dose-multiple binge methamphetamine exposure results in degeneration of the neocortex and limbic system in the rat. Exp Neurol. 2007;207(1):42-51.

2. Sekine Y, Ouchi Y, Takei N, et al. Brain serotonin transporter density and aggression in abstinent methamphetamine abusers. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2006;63(1):90-100.

3. Volkow, N.D., et al. Association of dopamine transporter reduction with psychomotor impairment in methamphetamine abusers. American Journal of Psychiatry 158(3):377-382, 2001.

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9. King G, Alicata D, Cloak C, Chang L. Neuropsychological deficits in adolescent methamphetamine abusers. Psychopharmacology. 2010;212(2):243-9.

Figures

Figure.1 Bar chart of significant different between HCs and MAs in sub region of frontal gray matter volume (a-h) and sub region of frontal white matter volume (i).

Figure.2 Significant cortical thinner region (p<0.05) of lateral view of left hemisphere (j), medial view of left hemisphere (k), lateral view of right hemisphere (l) and medial view of right hemisphere (m). Blue area show significant cortical thinner in MA abusers compared with HCs group mostly at the frontal area.

Table 1. Significant difference between HCs and MAs group of neuropsychological test.



Proc. Intl. Soc. Mag. Reson. Med. 24 (2016)
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