Adolescent drinking and brain morphometry: A co-twin control analysis.
Developmental changes in structure and functioning are thought to make the adolescent brain particularly sensitive to the negative effects of alcohol. Although alcohol use disorders are relatively rare in adolescence, the initiation of alcohol use, including problematic use, becomes increasingly prevalent during this period. The present study examined associations between normative drinking (alcohol initiation, binge drinking, intoxication) and brain morphometry in a sample of 96 adolescent monozygotic twins. A priori regions of interest included 11 subcortical and 20 cortical structures implicated in the existing empirical literature as associated with normative alcohol use in adolescence. In addition, co-twin control analyses were used to disentangle risk for alcohol use from consequences of alcohol exposure on the developing brain. Results indicated significant associations reflecting preexisting vulnerability toward problematic alcohol use, including reduced volume of the amygdala, increased volume of the cerebellum, and reduced cortical volume and thickness in several frontal and temporal regions, including the superior and middle frontal gyri, pars triangularis, and middle and inferior temporal gyri. Results also indicated some associations consistent with a neurotoxic effect of alcohol exposure, including reduced volume of the ventral diencephalon and the middle temporal gyrus.
Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, 61 E River Rd, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States; Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, 75 E River Rd, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States. Electronic address: syliaw@umn.edu.
Sylia
S
Wilson
Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, 75 E River Rd, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States.
Stephen M
SM
Malone
Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, 61 E River Rd, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States.
Kathleen M
KM
Thomas
Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, 75 E River Rd, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States.
William G
WG
Iacono
D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000473:pathology; D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D004027:Diencephalon / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D059906:Neuroimaging; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic; D000066608:Underage Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
Adolescence; Alcohol use; Brain morphometry; Co-twin control; Neuroimaging