Gray matter volume showed dynamic alterations in methamphetamine users at 6 and 12months abstinence: A longitudinal voxel-based morphometry study

摘要

Abstract Background Previous studies have demonstrated brain gray matter reduction in methamphetamine (MA) users; however, little is known about longitudinal brain structural alternations during abstinence. Method Brain volumes were compared among 30 MA-dependent patients (average 6.3years of drug use) at 6months' abstinence and 27 drug-na?ve controls by voxel-based morphometry. A longitudinal analysis of MA subjects was performed from 6 to 12months' abstinence, and multiple regression analyses were performed between drug use patterns and gray matter volumes (GMV) at 6months' abstinence. Results Compared with drug-na?ve subjects, subjects with 6months' abstinent of MA showed significantly lower GMV in the precentral gyrus, caudate head, fusiform gyrus, and cerebellum. Compared to 6months' abstinence, GMV was greater in the cerebellum and lower in the cingulate gyrus at 12months' abstinence. Accumulated years of MA use negatively correlated with GMV in the right superior frontal gyrus, the right superior temporal cortex, and the right caudate nucleus (significant at the whole brain level, p p Conclusion The present study suggested that heavy MA users' GMV could show dynamic alterations in different brain regions at different time lengths of abstinence. Highlights ? Brain gray matter volumes were compared among 6 months' abstinent MA-dependent patients and drug-na?ve controls. ? A longitudinal analysis of MA subjects from 6 to 12 months' abstinence