title: A systematic review of diffusion weighted MRI studies of white matter microstructure in adolescent substance users.
abstract: Recent studies using diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) have provided evidence of abnormal white matter microstructure in adults with substance use disorders (SUDs). While there is a growing body of research using DW-MRI to examine the impact of heavy substance use during adolescence, this literature has not been systematically reviewed. Online databases were searched for DW-MRI studies of adolescent substance users, and 10 studies fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria. We identified consistent evidence for abnormal white matter microstructure in neocortical association pathways as well as in projection and thalamic pathways. Dose-dependent relationships between DW-MRI measures and patterns of substance use were also observed. The consistency of these findings with DW-MRI research in adults suggests that white matter microstructure is impacted in the early stages of heavy substance use. However, given the largely cross-sectional nature of the available data, important questions remain regarding the extent to which white matter abnormalities are a consequence of adolescent exposure to alcohol and other drugs of abuse or reflect pre-existing differences that increase risk for SUDs.
authors.affiliation: Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre, Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University and Eastern Health, Victoria, Australia; Monash Clinical and Imaging Neuroscience, School of Psychology and Psychiatry and Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Simon T E
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yücel
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fornito
authors.forename: Nicholas B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Dan I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Lubman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D006801:Humans; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000473:pathology*; D059906:Neuroimaging; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Adolescent; Alcohol; Brain; Cannabis; Development; Diffusion tensor imaging; Diffusion weighted MRI; Microstructure; Neuroimaging; Substance abuse; Substance use disorders; White matter