Kyle Bullock1, Anita Cservenka2, Lara A Ray1,3,4. 1. a Department of Psychology , University of California , Los Angeles , CA , USA. 2. b School of Psychological Science , Oregon State University , Corvallis , OR , USA. 3. c Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences , University of California , Los Angeles , CA , USA. 4. d Brain Research Institute , University of California , Los Angeles , CA , USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: While research has examined brain structure in individuals who use alcohol or nicotine, heavy drinking smokers comprise a unique subpopulation of substance users for whom less is known about the relationship between alcohol or nicotine use and structural brain abnormalities. OBJECTIVES: The present study examined gray matter morphometry in a sample of 39 heavy drinking smokers (24 males, 15 females) in relation to alcohol and nicotine dependence and quantity of use. METHODS: Traditional voxel-based morphometry techniques were employed for preprocessing of imaging data. One multiple regression analysis for alcohol and nicotine dependence severity and another for alcohol and nicotine quantity of use were conducted, while controlling for age, gender, and total intracranial volume (ICV). RESULTS: Alcohol dependence severity was significantly negatively associated with gray matter density in the hypothalamus (p < 0.001, uncorrected) and the right superior frontal gyrus (p < 0.001, uncorrected), while controlling for nicotine dependence severity, age, gender, and ICV. There were no significant relationships observed with respect to nicotine dependence severity, the quantity of alcohol use, or the quantity of nicotine use variables and gray matter density. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that within heavy drinking smokers, alcohol dependence severity is significantly related to alterations in brain structure, while this effect is not seen for the quantity of alcohol or nicotine use, or severity of nicotine dependence. The current findings help clarify the contribution of alcohol and nicotine effects on brain structure, which could aid in understanding their neurocognitive consequences in heavy drinking smokers.
BACKGROUND: While research has examined brain structure in individuals who use alcohol or nicotine, heavy drinking smokers comprise a unique subpopulation of substance users for whom less is known about the relationship between alcohol or nicotine use and structural brain abnormalities. OBJECTIVES: The present study examined gray matter morphometry in a sample of 39 heavy drinking smokers (24 males, 15 females) in relation to alcohol and nicotine dependence and quantity of use. METHODS: Traditional voxel-based morphometry techniques were employed for preprocessing of imaging data. One multiple regression analysis for alcohol and nicotine dependence severity and another for alcohol and nicotine quantity of use were conducted, while controlling for age, gender, and total intracranial volume (ICV). RESULTS: Alcohol dependence severity was significantly negatively associated with gray matter density in the hypothalamus (p < 0.001, uncorrected) and the right superior frontal gyrus (p < 0.001, uncorrected), while controlling for nicotine dependence severity, age, gender, and ICV. There were no significant relationships observed with respect to nicotine dependence severity, the quantity of alcohol use, or the quantity of nicotine use variables and gray matter density. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that within heavy drinking smokers, alcohol dependence severity is significantly related to alterations in brain structure, while this effect is not seen for the quantity of alcohol or nicotine use, or severity of nicotine dependence. The current findings help clarify the contribution of alcohol and nicotine effects on brain structure, which could aid in understanding their neurocognitive consequences in heavy drinking smokers.
Entities:
Keywords:
Voxel-based morphometry; alcohol; alcohol use disorder; heavy drinking smokers; hypothalamus; nicotine; nicotine use disorder; prefrontal cortex
Authors: Arthur L Brody; Mark A Mandelkern; Murray E Jarvik; Grace S Lee; Erlyn C Smith; Joe C Huang; Robert G Bota; George Bartzokis; Edythe D London Journal: Biol Psychiatry Date: 2004-01-01 Impact factor: 13.382
Authors: Eveline A de Bruin; Hilleke E Hulshoff Pol; Hugo G Schnack; Joost Janssen; Suzanne Bijl; Alan C Evans; J Leon Kenemans; René S Kahn; Marinus N Verbaten Journal: Neuroimage Date: 2005-06 Impact factor: 6.556
Authors: Timothy C Durazzo; David L Pennington; Thomas P Schmidt; Dieter J Meyerhoff Journal: Alcohol Clin Exp Res Date: 2014-10-21 Impact factor: 3.455
Authors: Lynn Boschloo; Nicole Vogelzangs; Carmilla M M Licht; Sophie A Vreeburg; Johannes H Smit; Wim van den Brink; Dick J Veltman; Eco J C de Geus; Aartjan T F Beekman; Brenda W J H Penninx Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2011-02-16 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: Lara A Ray; Kelly E Courtney; Dara G Ghahremani; Karen Miotto; Arthur Brody; Edythe D London Journal: Psychopharmacology (Berl) Date: 2014-04-15 Impact factor: 4.530