Adolescent Development of Cortical and White Matter Structure in the NCANDA Sample: Role of Sex, Ethnicity, Puberty, and Alcohol Drinking

Abstract

Brain structural development continues throughout adolescence, when experimentation with alcohol is often initiated. To parse contributions from biological and environmental factors on neurodevelopment, this study used baseline National Consortium on Alcohol and NeuroDevelopment in Adolescence (NCANDA) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, acquired in 674 adolescents meeting no/low alcohol or drug use criteria and 134 adolescents exceeding criteria. Spatial integrity of images across the 5 recruitment sites was assured by morphological scaling using Alzheimer's disease neuroimaging initiative phantom-derived volume scalar metrics. Clinical MRI readings identified structural anomalies in 11.4%. Cortical volume and thickness were smaller and white matter volumes were larger in older than in younger adolescents. Effects of sex (male > female) and ethnicity (majority > minority) were significant for volume and surface but minimal for cortical thickness. Adjusting volume and area for supratentorial volume attenuated or removed sex and ethnicity effects. That cortical thickness showed age-related decline and was unrelated to supratentorial volume is consistent with the radial unit hypothesis, suggesting a universal neural development characteristic robust to sex and ethnicity. Comparison of NCANDA with PING data revealed similar but flatter, age-related declines in cortical volumes and thickness. Smaller, thinner frontal, and temporal cortices in the exceeds-criteria than no/low-drinking group suggested untoward effects of excessive alcohol consumption on brain structural development.

Binge drinking and academic performance, engagement, aspirations, and expectations: a longitudinal analysis among secondary school students in the COMPASS study

“…6 Similarly, in 2012-2013, consumption magnifies the risk. 1,3,9,10 The initiation of alcohol use occurs alongside changes in life roles and neurobiological maturation 11 and, therefore, has the poten tial to disrupt processes critical to the suc cessful transition from childhood to adulthood. Educational achievement is an important determinant of how well this developmental stage is navigated.…”

“…impaired memory and decision making), among heavy drinking adolescents compared to their non/low drinking peers. 10,23,24 Frequent binge behav iour appears especially harmful, based on associations between the quantity and fre quency of alcohol consumption with the persistence and degree of structural and functional abnormalities. 3,911 As the major ity of studies have been crosssectional in design, questions persist regarding whether reported neurocognitive differences predate (i.e.…”

“…as genetic liabilities for substance use or preexisting cognitive deficits) or result from alcohol use. 10,11 Similarly, the direction of influence between substance use and academic achievement is uncertain. Problematic alcohol use is largely assumed to predict lower educational performance and degree attainment.…”

The National Consortium on Alcohol and NeuroDevelopment in Adolescence (NCANDA): A Multisite Study of Adolescent Development and Substance Use

“…This report provides an overview of NCANDA's methodology and characterizes the sample at baseline. Other reports provide analysis of this sample on cognitive and motor performance, comprehensive clinical measures, sleep hygiene, regional brain macrostructure based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-derived metrics (Pfefferbaum et al, 2015), regional brain white matter microstructural metrics derived from MR diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and resting state MRI (rsMRI).…”

Les abus occasionnels d'alcool en lien avec le rendement scolaire, l’investissement dans les études et les aspirations et attentes en matière de scolarité : une étude longitudinale chez les élèves du secondaire ayant participé à l’étude COMPASS

“…Si la consommation d'alcool avant l'âge légal est souvent considérée comme un comportement transitoire courant reflé-tant une tendance accrue à prendre des risques pendant cette phase, les experts affirment que les adolescents sont particulièrement susceptibles de subir les effets négatifs de cette consommation, et les abus occasionnels en amplifient les risques 1,3,9,10 . En effet, la consommation d'alcool intervient pendant une période de maturation neurobiologique caractérisée par la modification des rôles dans la vie 11 et, de ce fait, elle peut perturber certains processus essentiels à une transition réussie entre l'enfance et l'âge adulte.…”