Back to Search
Start Over
Elevated Glutamate Levels in the Left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Are Associated with Higher Cravings for Alcohol.
- Source :
-
Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research [Alcohol Clin Exp Res] 2016 Aug; Vol. 40 (8), pp. 1609-16. Date of Electronic Publication: 2016 Jul 20. - Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- Background: Quantifying craving longitudinally during the course of withdrawal, early abstinence, and relapse is essential for optimal management of alcohol use disorder (AUD). In an effort to identify biological correlates of craving, we used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) to investigate the correlation between craving and glutamate levels in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (LDLPFC) of patients with AUD.<br />Methods: Participants underwent 1H-MRS of the LDLPFC with 2-dimensional J-resolved (2DJ) averaged PRESS. MRS data were processed with LCModel and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-corrected to generate metabolite concentrations. The Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS) and the 30-day time line follow-back (TLFB 30) were used to quantify craving for alcohol and drinking patterns, respectively.<br />Results: There was a statistically significant positive correlation between CSF-corrected glutamate ([Glu]) levels and PACS scores (n = 14; p = 0.005). When PACS scores were dichotomized (< or ≥median = 16), [Glu] levels were significantly higher in the high- versus low-craving group (p = 0.007). In addition, there was a significant negative correlation between CSF-corrected N-acetyl aspartic acid ([NAA]) levels and mean number of drinks per drinking day in the past month (n = 13; TLFB 30; p = 0.012). When mean TLFB 30 was dichotomized (< or ≥median = 7.86), [NAA] levels were significantly lower in subjects that consumed more alcoholic beverages. There was no significant correlation between [Glu] and [NAA] levels with other measures of drinking behavior and or depression symptom severity.<br />Conclusions: While limited by small sample size, these data suggest that glutamate levels in LDLPFC are associated with alcohol craving intensity in patients with AUD. Further study with larger sample size is needed to replicate this finding and evaluate the merits of glutamate spectroscopy as a biological correlate of alcohol craving intensity and a guide to treatment interventions.<br /> (Copyright © 2016 by the Research Society on Alcoholism.)
- Subjects :
- Adult
Alcohol Abstinence trends
Alcohol-Related Disorders diagnostic imaging
Alcohol-Related Disorders therapy
Female
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy methods
Male
Middle Aged
Prefrontal Cortex diagnostic imaging
Substance Abuse Treatment Centers trends
Alcohol Drinking metabolism
Alcohol-Related Disorders metabolism
Craving physiology
Glutamic Acid metabolism
Prefrontal Cortex metabolism
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1530-0277
- Volume :
- 40
- Issue :
- 8
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 27439218
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/acer.13131