Our results suggest that there is focal atrophy in patients with primary lateral sclerosis compared with controls especially in the precentral cortex and the corpus callosum, specifically where there is transfer of motor fibers.

Objective Abnormal blood lipid levels are common in bipolar disorder (BD) and correlate with mood symptoms and neurocognition. However, studies have not examined the lipid–brain structure association in BD or youth. Methods This study examined low‐density lipoprotein (LDL‐C), high‐density lipoprotein (HDL‐C), triglycerides, and total cholesterol (TC) levels in relation to brain structure utilizing T1‐weighted images, among participants ages 13–20 with BD (n = 55) and healthy controls (HC; n = 47). General linear models investigated group differences in the association of lipids with anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), hippocampus, and inferior parietal lobe structure, controlling for age, sex, body mass index, and intracranial volume. For significant associations, post hoc within‐group analyses were undertaken. Exploratory vertex‐wise analyses further investigated group differences in the lipid–brain structure association. Results There were significant group differences in the association of LDL‐C (β = −0.29 p = 0.001), and TC (β = −0.21 p = 0.016), with hippocampal volume, and triglycerides with ACC volume (β = −0.25 p = 0.01) and area (β = −0.26 p = 0.004). Elevated lipids were associated with smaller brain structure to a significantly greater extent in BD vs HC. Post hoc analyses revealed that elevated LDL‐C (β = −0.27 p = 0.007) and reduced HDL‐C (β = 0.24 p = 0.01) were associated with smaller hippocampal volume in the BD group. Exclusion of BD second‐generation antipsychotic users did not alter these results. Vertex‐wise analyses further showed that elevated lipids were associated with smaller brain structure to a significantly greater extent in BD vs HC, across the cortex. Conclusion Elevated lipids are associated with smaller brain structure in BD. Research evaluating lipid–brain structure associations prospectively and whether lipid optimization has salutary effects on brain structure is necessary.

Objective Little is known regarding the association of cannabis use with brain structure in adolescents with bipolar disorder (BD). This subject is timely, given expanded availability of cannabis contemporaneously with increased social acceptance and diminished societal constraints to access. Therefore, we set out to examine this topic in a sample of adolescents with BD and healthy control (HC) adolescents. Methods Participants included 144 adolescents (47 BD with cannabis use [BDCB+; including 13 with cannabis use disorder], 34 BD without cannabis use [BDCB-], 63 HC without cannabis use) ages 13-20 years. FreeSurfer-processed 3T MRI with T1-weighted contrast, yielded measures of cortical thickness, surface area (SA), and volume. Region of interest (ROI; amygdala, hippocampus, ventrolateral prefrontal cortex [vlPFC], ventromedial prefrontal cortex [vmPFC], and anterior cingulate cortex [ACC]), analyses and exploratory vertex-wise analysis were undertaken. A general linear model tested for between-group differences, accounting for age, sex, and intracranial volume. Results Vertex-wise analysis revealed significant group effects in frontal and parietal regions. In post-hoc analyses, BDCB+ exhibited larger volume and SA in parietal regions, and smaller thickness in frontal regions, relative to HC and BDCB-. BDCB- had smaller volume, SA and thickness in parietal and frontal regions relative to HC. There were no significant ROI findings after correcting for multiple comparisons. Conclusion This study found that cannabis use is associated with differences in regional brain structure among adolescents with BD. Future prospective studies are necessary to determine the direction of the observed association and to assess for dose effects.