Cerebellar gray matter volume correlates with duration of cocaine use in cocaine-dependent subjects.
This study was conducted to explore differences in gray and white matter volume between cocaine-dependent and healthy comparison subjects using optimized voxel-based morphometry (VBM). Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and neuropsychological function tests were performed for 40 cocaine-dependent subjects (41.4+/-6.9 years, 27 men) and 41 healthy age- and sex-matched comparison subjects (38.7+/-8.8 years, 26 men). Optimally normalized whole brain MR images were segmented, modulated, smoothed, and compared between groups with statistical parametric mapping. The cocaine-dependent group had lower gray matter volumes in bilateral premotor cortex (Brodmann area (BA) 6, 8; 16.6%), right orbitofrontal cortex (BA 10, 15.1%), bilateral temporal cortex (BA 20, 38; 15.9%), left thalamus (12.6%), and bilateral cerebellum (13.4%) as well as lower right cerebellar white matter volume (10.0%) relative to the comparison group at a corrected p<0.05 for multiple comparisons. Duration of cocaine use negatively correlated with right and left cerebellar gray matter volumes (r=-0.37, r=-0.39, respectively). In cocaine-dependent subjects, lower cerebellar hemispheric gray and white matter volumes were correlated with deficits in executive function and decreased motor performance. This study reports that cocaine-dependent subjects have lower gray matter volumes in cerebellar hemispheres as well as in frontal, temporal cortex, and thalamus. These findings are the first to suggest that the cerebellum may be vulnerable to cocaine-associated brain volume changes, and that cerebellar deficits may contribute to neuropsychological deficits and motor dysfunction frequently observed in cocaine-dependent subjects.
Sim
Minyoung E
ME
Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 110-744, South Korea.
Lyoo
In Kyoon
IK
Streeter
Chris C
CC
Covell
Julie
J
Sarid-Segal
Ofra
O
Ciraulo
Domenic A
DA
Kim
Minue J
MJ
Kaufman
Marc J
MJ
Yurgelun-Todd
Deborah A
DA
Renshaw
Perry F
PF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001284:Atrophy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003042:Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors
D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D003042:Cocaine