Evidence for long-term neurotoxicity associated with methamphetamine abuse: A 1H MRS study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether proton MRS (1H MRS) can detect long-term metabolite abnormalities in abstinent methamphetamine users.


BACKGROUND
Methamphetamine is toxic to dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons in rodents; however, little data are available on the toxic effects of methamphetamine on the human brain.


METHODS
1H MRS was performed in 26 abstinent methamphetamine abusers with a history of methamphetamine dependence (median total cumulative lifetime exposure, 3,640 g; median recency of last methamphetamine use, 4.25 months) and 24 healthy subjects without a history of drug abuse. Cerebral metabolite concentrations on 1H MRS were measured in the frontal cortex, frontal white matter, and basal ganglia.


RESULTS
The concentration of N-acetylaspartate ([NA]), a neuronal marker, was reduced significantly (-5 to -6%) in the basal ganglia and frontal white matter of methamphetamine users compared with control subjects. The frontal white matter [NA] correlated inversely with the logarithm of the lifetime methamphetamine use. The methamphetamine users also showed significantly reduced total creatine in the basal ganglia (-8%), and increased choline-containing compounds ([CHO], +13%) and myo-inositol ([MI], +11%) in the frontal grey matter.


CONCLUSIONS
The reduced [NA] on 1H MRS provides evidence for long-term neuronal damage in abstinent methamphetamine users.
Ernst
T
T
Department of Neurology, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA 90502, USA. Ernst@afp76.humc.edu
Chang
L
L
Leonido-Yee
M
M
Speck
O
O
D000328:Adult; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011522:Protons; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors
D011522:Protons; D008694:Methamphetamine