Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioral Science, Erasmus University Rotterdam, 3000 DR Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Erasmus MC, Sophia Children's Hospital, 3000 CB Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioral Science, Erasmus University Rotterdam, 3000 DR Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Brain Res. 2022 Nov 15;1795:148020. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2022.148020. Epub 2022 Jul 16.
In the last decade, extensive research has emerged on the predictive value of brain morphology for substance use initiation and related problems during adolescence. This systematic review provides an overview of longitudinal studies on pre-existing brain variations and later initiation of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis use (N = 18). Adolescent structural neuroimaging studies that started before substance use initiation suggest that a smaller anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) volume, thicker or smaller superior frontal gyrus, and larger nucleus accumbens (NAcc) volume are associated with future alcohol use. Also, both smaller and larger orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) volumes were associated with future cannabis and combined alcohol/cannabis use. Smaller amygdala volumes were related to future daily tobacco smoking. These findings could point to specific vulnerabilities for adolescent substance use, as these brain areas are involved in cognitive control (ACC), reward (NAcc), motivation (OFC), and emotional memory (amygdala). However, the reported findings were inconsistent in directionality and laterality, and the largest study on alcohol use predictors reported null findings. Therefore, large population-based longitudinal studies should investigate the robustness and mechanisms of these associations. We suggested future research directions regarding sample selection, timing of baseline and follow-up measurements, and a harmonization approach of study methods.
在过去的十年中，大量研究表明大脑形态对于青少年时期物质使用的开始和相关问题具有预测价值。本系统综述概述了关于预先存在的大脑差异与后来的酒精、烟草和大麻使用开始之间关系的纵向研究（N=18）。在物质使用开始之前进行的青少年结构神经影像学研究表明，前扣带皮层（ACC）体积较小、额上回较厚或较小、伏隔核（NAcc）体积较大与未来的酒精使用有关。此外，眶额皮层（OFC）的体积较小或较大都与未来大麻和酒精/大麻混合使用有关。杏仁核体积较小与未来每日吸烟有关。这些发现可能指向青少年物质使用的特定脆弱性，因为这些大脑区域参与认知控制（ACC）、奖励（NAcc）、动机（OFC）和情绪记忆（杏仁核）。然而，报告的发现在方向性和侧性上不一致，而且关于酒精使用预测因子的最大研究报告了无效的发现。因此，应进行基于人群的大型纵向研究，以调查这些关联的稳健性和机制。我们提出了关于样本选择、基线和随访测量时间以及研究方法协调方法的未来研究方向。
