Many correlations, such as a reduced prefrontal cortex thickness and an increased overall brain volume, are observed prior to the onset of substance use.
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THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2025 (HealthDay News) -- Preexisting neuroanatomical variability is associated with substance use initiation in children younger than 15 years, according to a study published online Dec. 30 in JAMA Network Open.
Dr. Alex P. Miller and his team from Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis conducted a study to investigate the neuroanatomical characteristics linked to early initiation of substance use. They aimed to determine whether these associations indicated preexisting vulnerabilities. The research utilized data collected over a three-year period, starting from baseline, and involved a cohort of 9,804 children. Among them, 35.3 percent reported having begun using substances before reaching the age of 15.
The researchers found a link between the start of any substance or alcohol use and a thinner cortex in the prefrontal areas (such as the rostral middle frontal gyrus, β = –0.03). In contrast, they observed a thicker cortex in other brain lobes, as well as increased volumes in the globus pallidus and hippocampus, along with enhanced overall brain structure indices (for example, a larger whole brain volume, β = 0.05). Additionally, cannabis use initiation was associated with a reduced volume in the right caudate (β = –0.03). Most of these associations, including the thinner prefrontal cortex and the larger whole brain volume, were noted to precede the initiation in further analyses that focused on postbaseline initiation.
"The authors suggest that a deeper comprehension of the connections between brain structure and substance use could reveal predispositional risk factors, offering valuable insights into the early origins of substance use disorders and the clinical mechanisms that lead to various negative health outcomes associated with substance involvement."
