White Matter Connectometry Among Individuals with Self-Reported Family History of Drug and Alcohol Use Disorders

Abstract

Heredity is an important risk factor for alcoholism. Several studies have been conducted on small groups of alcohol naïve adolescents which show lowered fractional anisotropy of frontal white matter in FH+ groups. We sought to compare large FH+ and FH-groups using white matter connectometry, as opposed to the previously used global tractography method, as it is more sensitive to regional variability. Imaging and behavioral data from the Human Connectome Project (WU-MINN HCP 1200) was used. Groups of participants were positive (n=109) and negative (n=109) for self-reported drug and alcohol use disorders in at least one parent. Groups were matched on gender, age, education, current alcohol usage, and alcohol use disorders (AUD). Connectometry was performed on diffusion MRI in DSI-Studio using q-space diffeomorphic reconstruction, and multiple regression was completed with 5000 permutations. Analyses showed decreased major tract (>40 mm) connectivity in the FH+ group in left inferior longitudinal fasciculus, bilateral cortico-striatal pathway, left cortico-thalamic pathway, and corpus callosum, compared to the FH- group. For cognitive tasks related to reward processing, inhibition, and monitoring, there were a number of interactions, such that the relationship between identified networks and behavior differed significantly between groups. Positive self-report of family history of alcoholism was associated with decreased connectivity in reward signaling pathways, controlling for alcohol consumption and AUD. This is the first connectometry study of FH+, and extends the neural basis of the hereditary diathesis of alcoholism beyond that demonstrated with global tractography. Regions associated with FH+ are similar to those associated with AUD.

Sex/gender differences in brain function and structure in alcohol use: A narrative review of neuroimaging findings over the last 10 years

“…These studies are consistent with findings in adolescent binge drinkers (Squeglia et al, 2012), suggesting that structural alterations in cerebral white matter may arise with acute alcohol use and, thus, precede chronic patterns of alcohol consumption (Sawyer et al, 2018). In a recent large study of 218 participants from the Human Connectome Project, an advanced diffusion model was used to examine white matter integrity in individuals FHP for AUD (Waters, Sawyer, & Gansler, 2019). Although FHP was related to reduced white matter density compared to FHN controls, there was no interaction between SG and family history (Waters et al, 2019).…”

“…In a recent large study of 218 participants from the Human Connectome Project, an advanced diffusion model was used to examine white matter integrity in individuals FHP for AUD (Waters, Sawyer, & Gansler, 2019). Although FHP was related to reduced white matter density compared to FHN controls, there was no interaction between SG and family history (Waters et al, 2019).…”

Therapeutic Methods Including the Tasks of a Nurse and Evaluation of Their Effectiveness in the Opinion of Patients after Craniocerebral Trauma with a Diagnosis of Alcohol use Disorder

“…It is a disease with complex conditions, and among the factors predisposing to its development are genetic factors that explain from 40.0% to 60.0% of the risk of addiction; early alcohol initiation; alcoholism in the family environment, and a number of sociodemographic factors [1,[5][6][7][8][9]. It should be noted that alcoholic toxicomania is perceived as a primary disease, which means that it is the cause of many somatic and mental illnesses [5]. It has been shown that harmful ethanol losing one's job on the one hand, and on the other hand contributes to the further development of addiction, leading to increasingly serious health and social consequences [22].…”