Network-dependent cortical thickness reductions following chronic methamphetamine use.

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Neuroscience
• Addiction Research

Background:

• Chronic methamphetamine use leads to non-uniform cortical thinning across brain regions.
• Brain connectivity networks may mediate the spread of these neuroanatomical changes.
• Understanding how network architecture influences these alterations is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how brain network architecture shapes cortical thickness reductions in methamphetamine use disorder (MUD).
• To explore the clinical relevance of network-constrained atrophy patterns.
• To identify distinct MUD biotypes based on network-weighted cortical abnormalities.

Main Methods:

• Acquired 3D-T1 images from 139 MUD patients and 119 controls.
• Assessed cortical thinning and its relationship with multimodal nodal centrality and connected neighbor atrophy.
• Used k-means clustering and partial least squares regression to identify MUD biotypes and clinical correlations.

Main Results:

• Cortical thinning showed significant associations with nodal centrality and connected neighbor atrophy, indicating network-dependent atrophy.
• Fronto-temporal regions were identified as critical epicenters of thinning.
• Individual differences in network-weighted abnormalities correlated with clinical variability and distinguished two MUD biotypes.

Conclusions:

• Brain connectome architecture influences cortical thinning in MUD.
• This provides a mechanistic framework for understanding individual differences in addiction progression.
• Findings highlight the role of network organization in the neurobiology of MUD.