title: Volumetric differences in the anterior cingulate cortex prospectively predict alcohol-related problems in adolescence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Individual differences in brain structure and function are suggested to exist prior to the onset of alcohol abuse. Cross-sectional studies have demonstrated abnormalities in brain regions underlying affective processes that may form a pathway to the emergence of later alcohol abuse and dependence in vulnerable individuals. However, no prospective studies have examined whether these abnormalities predict later problems with alcohol.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to examine whether individual differences in affect and brain volume prospectively predict alcohol-related problems in adolescence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adolescent drinkers (n = 98) were recruited from an ongoing prospective, longitudinal study examining adolescent emotional development. At age 12, participants underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging to obtain volumetric data on the amygdala, hippocampus, orbitofrontal cortex, and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and completed a self-report measure of affective temperament. At age 16, participants completed a questionnaire measuring alcohol use, with 39 % reporting alcohol-related problems in the past year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pre-existing differences in the left ACC predicted problem drinking. Alcohol-related problems were associated with higher levels of temperamental negative affectivity; however, these were not correlated with anterior cingulate volumes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate that individual differences in the structural morphology of the anterior cingulate, a region implicated in affective processes, self-control, and drug addiction, predict later alcohol-related problems. Although this finding remained significant after controlling for other substance use and psychopathology, future research is required to test its specificity for alcohol use disorders.
authors.affiliation: Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cheetham
authors.forename: Nicholas B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Whittle
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yücel
authors.forename: Dan I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Lubman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology; D000679:Amygdala / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000473:pathology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires