Extensive frontal cortex abnormalities and cognitive impairment in methamphetamine use disorder: a comprehensive 3T...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Radiology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Methamphetamine (MA) misuse is a global issue with poorly understood neurobiological underpinnings affecting cognition.
• Individuals with methamphetamine use disorders (MUDs) often exhibit cognitive impairments.
• Investigating the relationship between brain structure and cognitive function in MUDs is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine cognitive traits in individuals with MUDs.
• To identify structural brain changes associated with MUDs.
• To correlate cognitive deficits with specific brain alterations in MUDs.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 45 individuals with MUDs and 43 healthy controls (HC).
• Administered the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) to assess 7 cognitive domains.
• Utilized 3.0T MRI to acquire structural brain imaging data.

Main Results:

• MUD group showed reduced gray matter volume in the right insula, left middle frontal, left postcentral, and bilateral angular gyrus compared to HC.
• Decreased cortical thickness was observed in the MUD group in the left precentral, left postcentral, left superior frontal, left parstriangularis, left supramarginal, and left parsopercularis.
• Significant correlations were found between cortical thickness in specific frontal regions (left precentral, left parsopercularis, left superior frontal) and performance on cognitive tests (Digit-Symbol Coding, NAB-Mazes, CPT).

Conclusions:

• MUDs are associated with significant alterations in gray matter morphology and cortical thickness, particularly in frontal regions.
• Reduced frontal cortex thickness may underlie the neuroanatomy of cognitive deficits observed in MUDs.
• Brain imaging provides valuable insights into the neurobiological mechanisms of cognitive impairment in MUDs.