A pilot study investigating cognitive impairment associated with opioid overdose

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Public Health

Background:

• Opioid overdose deaths reached record highs in 2021, with over 80% of overdoses not being fatal.
• Existing case studies suggest a link between opioid-related overdoses and cognitive impairment, but this association requires systematic investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically investigate the association between opioid-related overdose (OD) and cognitive impairment.
• To compare cognitive function in individuals with a recent OD history versus those without any OD history.

Main Methods:

• 78 participants with opioid use disorder (OUD) were assessed.
• Cognitive function was evaluated using the Test of Premorbid Functioning (TOPF) and NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery (NIHTB-CB).
• Statistical analyses controlled for age, premorbid functioning, and prior OD count.

Main Results:

• Individuals with a past-year OD showed significantly lower total cognition composite scores (coef. = -7.112; P=0.004).
• Lower crystallized cognition (coef. = -4.194; P=0.009) and fluid cognition (coef. = -7.879; P=0.031) composite scores were also observed in the past-year OD group.
• These differences emerged in multivariable models after controlling for confounding factors.

Conclusions:

• Opioid-related overdoses may be associated with or contribute to reduced cognitive function.
• The extent of cognitive impairment is influenced by premorbid intellectual functioning and the cumulative number of past overdoses.
• While statistically significant, the clinical significance of observed cognitive differences requires further investigation, considering potential confounding variables.