| Publication Abstract Display | | Type: Published Abstract | | Title: Reduced N-acetylaspartate related to neuropsychological deficits in methamphetamine users: a magnetic resonance spectroscopy study. | | Authors: Taylor MJ, Alhassoon OM, Schweinsburg BC, Videen JS, Patterson T, Grant I, and the HNRC Group | | Year: 2000 | | Publication: Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society | | Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Pages: 236 | | Abstract:Few studies have addressed the neurocognitive changes in methamphetamine
dependent individuals who have not suffered frank neurological damage
(e.g., hemorrhagic stroke or vasculitis). When damage is evident, the
primary areas affected appear to be the head of the caudate nucleus and
frontal white matter. Neuropsychological studies suggest difficulties with
attention, memory, and cognitive flexibility in long-term methamphetamine
users. In this preliminary study, magnetic resonance spectroscopy
(MRS) was used to assess metabolic abnormalities in methamphetamine
users without structural abnormalities. It is hypothesized that, compared
to controls, methamphetamine users will show lower N-acetylaspartate0
creatine (NAA0Cr; a measure of neuronal integrity) and elevated myo-
Inositol0creatione (mI0Cr), and, that lower NAA0Cr will be related to
poorer neuropsychological functioning. Single voxel short echo PRESS
(TE 35 ms, TR 1.5 s) spectra of frontal white matter, frontal gray matter,
and right caudate nucleus, were acquired in 5 methamphetamine dependent
individuals and 6 age-matched controls. Clinical ratings of neuropsychological
impairment were made from a comprehensive neuropsychological
battery. Significantly lower NAA0Cr was found in methamphetamine users
compared to controls in frontal gray and caudate regions. There were no
reliable differences in mI0Cr ratios. Overall level of neuropsychological
functioning was significantly correlated (r 5 .66, p , .05) with NAA0Cr
in the frontal white matter. Correlations between neuropsychological functioning
and NAA0Cr in the frontal gray and caudate were moderate (r 5
.53 and r 5 .46, respectively), but not statistically significant. The results
suggest that neuronal compromise may occur in methamphetamine users
without frank neurological injury. In addition, the neuropsychological deficits
observed may be related to this neuronal compromise. |
return to publications listing
|