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09:16
A General Method for Evaluating Deep Brain Stimulation Effects on Intravenous Methamphetamine Self-Administration
Published on: January 22, 2016
Persistent cognitive and dopamine transporter deficits in abstinent methamphetamine users.
Una D McCann1, Hiroto Kuwabara, Anil Kumar
1Department of Psychiatry, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. umccann@jhmi.edu
Synapse (New York, N.Y.)
|November 10, 2007
Summary
Methamphetamine (METH) users show memory deficits linked to dopamine transporter (DAT) reductions. These findings suggest METH abuse may cause lasting effects on brain dopamine systems, impacting cognitive function even after abstinence.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Methamphetamine (METH) abuse is associated with cognitive and motor deficits.
- Reductions in brain dopamine transporter (DAT) binding potential (BP) are observed in abstinent METH users.
- The persistence of these deficits and their link to dopamine (DA) levels require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate persistent psychomotor deficits in abstinent METH users.
- To examine the relationship between these deficits and brain DAT availability.
- To explore the role of dopamine system changes in METH-induced neurotoxicity.
Main Methods:
- Psychometric testing was conducted on 22 abstinent METH users and 17 healthy controls.
- Neuropsychiatric domains involving DA neurons, including working memory, executive function, and motor function, were assessed.
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET) with [(11)C]WIN 35428 was used to measure DAT BP in a subset of subjects.
Main Results:
- Abstinent METH users exhibited modest deficits in short-term memory, executive function, and manual dexterity.
- Correlational analyses indicated that memory deficits were associated with decreased striatal DAT BP.
- No significant association was found between DAT BP and deficits in executive or motor function.
Conclusions:
- A potential relationship exists between DAT BP and memory impairments in abstinent METH users.
- Results support the hypothesis that METH abuse has lasting effects on human central DA neurons.
- Further research is necessary to explore the role of serotonin (5-HT) depletion in cognitive deficits post-METH abstinence.
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