Morphometric similarity deviations in stimulant use disorder point towards abnormal brain ageing.
View / Open Files
Publication Date
2022Journal Title
Brain Commun
ISSN
2632-1297
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Type
Article
This Version
AM
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Zhukovsky, P., Savulich, G., Morgan, S., Dalley, J., Williams, G., & Ersche, K. (2022). Morphometric similarity deviations in stimulant use disorder point towards abnormal brain ageing.. Brain Commun https://doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcac079
Abstract
Chronic drug use negatively impacts ageing, resulting in diminished health and quality of life. However, little is known about biomarkers of abnormal ageing in stimulant drug users. Using morphometric similarity network mapping, a novel approach to structural connectomics, we first mapped cross-sectional morphometric similarity trajectories of ageing in the publicly available Rockland Sample (20-80 years of age, n = 665). We then compared morphometric similarity and neuropsychological function between non-treatment-seeking, actively using patients with stimulant use disorder (n = 183, mean age: 35.6 years) and healthy control participants (n = 148, mean age: 36.0 years). The significantly altered mean regional morphometric similarity was found in 43 cortical regions including the inferior and orbital frontal gyri, pre/postcentral gyri and anterior temporal, superior parietal and occipital areas. Deviations from normative morphometric similarity trajectories in patients with stimulant use disorder suggested abnormal brain ageing. Furthermore, deficits in paired associates learning were consistent with neuropathology associated with both ageing and stimulant use disorder. Morphometric similarity mapping provides a promising biomarker for ageing in health and disease and may complement existing neuropsychological markers of age-related cognitive decline. Neuropathological ageing mechanisms in stimulant use disorder warrant further investigation to develop more age-appropriate treatments for older people addicted to stimulant drugs.
Keywords
substance use disorder, addiction, stimulants, brain structure, ageing
Sponsorship
Sponsor: University of Cambridge
Funding: Medical Research Council (G0701497 and MR/J012084/1)
Funder references
Medical Research Council (MR/J012084/1)
Medical Research Council (G0701497)
Identifiers
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcac079
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/333884
Statistics
Total file downloads (since January 2020). For more information on metrics see the
IRUS guide.