title: Methamphetamine use parameters do not predict neuropsychological impairment in currently abstinent dependent adults.
abstract: Methamphetamine (meth) abuse is increasingly of public health concern and has been associated with neurocognitive dysfunction. Some previous studies have been hampered by background differences between meth users and comparison subjects, as well as unknown HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) status, which can also affect brain functioning. We compared the neurocognitive functioning of 54 meth dependent (METH+) study participants who had been abstinent for an average of 129 days, to that of 46 demographically comparable control subjects (METH-) with similar level of education and reading ability. All participants were free of HIV and HCV infection. The METH+ group exhibited higher rates of neuropsychological impairment in most areas tested. Among meth users, neuropsychologically normal (n=32) and impaired (n=22) subjects did not differ with respect to self-reported age at first use, total years of use, route of consumption, or length of abstinence. Those with motor impairment had significantly greater meth use in the past year, but impairment in cognitive domains was unrelated to meth exposure. The apparent lack of correspondence between substance use parameters and cognitive impairment suggests the need for further study of individual differences in vulnerability to the neurotoxic effects of methamphetamine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0847, USA.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cherner
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Suarez
authors.forename: Corinna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Casey
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Deiss
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Letendre
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Marcotte
authors.forename: Florin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vaida
authors.forename: J Hampton
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: Robert K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Heaton
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001288:Attention; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D007327:Insufflation; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009498:Neurotoxins; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012907:Smoking; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000534:rehabilitation
chemical_list: D009498:Neurotoxins; D008694:Methamphetamine