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Magnetic resonance detects brainstem changes in chronic, active heavy drinkers.
Courtnay W Bloomer1, Daniel D Langleben, Dieter J Meyerhoff
1University of Pennsylvania-Presbyterian Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Psychiatry Research
|January 25, 2005
Summary
Chronic heavy alcohol use shrinks the brainstem and alters brain metabolites, indicating neuronal injury. Midsagittal MRI brainstem area is a reliable measure of brainstem volume in alcohol dependence.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neuroscience
- Alcohol Dependence Research
Background:
- Alcohol dependence is linked to brain volume loss, particularly in cortical and subcortical regions.
- The brainstem plays a critical role in the development and maintenance of alcohol dependence.
- Previous research has not extensively examined brainstem structural and cellular changes in heavy drinkers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate brainstem size and potential cellular injury in untreated chronic heavy alcohol drinkers using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging ((1)H MRSI).
- To compare two methods for determining brainstem size: standard volumetry and midsagittal MR image area measurement.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative MRI and (1)H MRSI were used to assess brainstem structure and metabolites in 12 heavy drinkers and 10 light drinkers.
- Brainstem size was determined using standard volumetry and midsagittal MR image area measurement.
- (1)H MRSI data focused on metabolite ratios, specifically N-acetyl-aspartate and choline-containing compounds relative to creatine-containing compounds.
Main Results:
- Chronic heavy drinking was associated with significantly smaller midsagittal areas of the brainstem, midbrain, and pons.
- Significantly smaller overall brainstem volume was observed in heavy drinkers compared to light drinkers.
- Heavy drinkers exhibited significantly lower ratios of N-acetyl-aspartate and choline-containing metabolites to creatine-containing compounds in the brainstem, independent of brainstem atrophy.
- Brainstem volume and midsagittal brainstem area showed a strong correlation (r=0.78).
Conclusions:
- Structural and metabolite findings suggest neuronal injury in the brainstem of untreated chronic heavy drinkers.
- The midsagittal MRI brainstem area measurement is a reliable and easily determined indicator of overall brainstem volume.
- These findings highlight the brainstem as a significant target of alcohol-related neurotoxicity.