Neurobehavioral Predictors of Cognitive Decline in Methamphetamine Dependence

描述(由申请人提供)：目前的研究提案试图通过创建“差异分数”来改进与甲基苯丙胺(MA)依赖相关的认知能力下降的估计，差异分数由认知电池的预期认知表现和当前表现之间的差异组成。将使用人口统计变量、发病前评估程序和参与者在药物滥用开始之前的学校记录来评估MA依赖和健康对照受试者的预期认知表现。然后，我们将确定MA依赖受试者差异得分的神经解剖学和行为预测因子。行为预测将包括药物滥用变量、人口统计变量和心理社会因素，而神经解剖学预测将包括通过对结构性MRI数据(例如，VBM和DTI)进行自动和半自动分析而确定的灰质和白质测量。识别差异分数的预测因素将牵涉到MA依赖认知下降的危险因素。应聘者有临床神经心理学背景，他希望从这个奖项中获得两个主要的培训目标：1)学习结构神经成像技术，2)成为药物滥用，特别是MA滥用方面的专家。候选人在加州大学洛杉矶分校分子神经成像实验室的工作环境为接受神经成像和药物滥用方面的培训提供了完美的基础设施，他将得到这些领域知名专家的指导和咨询。该实验室有几项由赠款资助的正在进行的MA依赖研究，与脑成像中心和住院综合临床研究中心(GCRC)有很强的联系。作为培训的一部分，应聘者将参加基础神经成像主题(编程、统计学、图像获取、神经解剖学)和更高级神经成像主题(例如DTI解释)的几个课程和研讨会，以及药物滥用的生物学和精神病学基础课程。他还将出席物质滥用(CPDD)和神经成像(如人脑成像)的年度会议，并定期与导师会面。候选人计划在获奖期结束时提交R01奖助金。从长远来看，他计划建立一个独立的研究生涯，研究药物滥用中大脑结构和行为之间的关系。 公共卫生相关性：已发现依赖甲基苯丙胺(MA)的人有认知障碍，但这些困难在多大程度上可归因于MA的消费尚不清楚。目前的项目旨在改进与MA依赖相关的认知下降的测量，并确定这种下降的风险因素。认知能力下降的危险因素知识可用于辅助预防和治疗工作。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The current research proposal seeks to provide an improved estimate of cognitive decline associated with methamphetamine (MA) dependence by creating "discrepancy scores" which consist of the difference between expected cognitive performance and current performance on a cognitive battery. Expected cognitive performance will be estimated in MA-dependent and healthy control subjects using demographic variables, pre-morbid estimation procedures, and participants' school records prior to the initiation of drug abuse. We will then determine the neuroanatomical and behavioral predictors of discrepancy scores in MA-dependent subjects. Behavioral predictors will include drug abuse variables, demographic variables, and psychosocial factors, while neuroanatomical predictors will consist of gray matter and white matter measurements identified from automated and semi-automated analysis of structural MRI data (e.g., VBM and DTI). Identifying predictors of discrepancy scores will implicate risk factors for cognitive decline in MA dependence. The candidate has a background in clinical neuropsychology and he seeks two primary training goals from this award: 1) learn structural neuroimaging techniques, and 2) become an expert in substance abuse, particularly MA abuse. The candidate's work environment at the UCLA Laboratory of Molecular Neuroimaging provides an impeccable infrastructure for being trained in neuroimaging and substance abuse, and he will be mentored and consulted by renowned experts in these areas. The lab has several grant-funded, ongoing studies in MA dependence with strong ties to the Brain Mapping Center and the inpatient General Clinical Research Center (GCRC). As part of training, the candidate will attend several courses and workshops in foundational neuroimaging topics (programming, statistics, image acquisition, neuroanatomy) and more advanced neuroimaging topics (e.g., DTI interpretation), as well as courses in the biological and psychiatric bases of substance abuse. He will also attend annual conferences in substance abuse (CPDD) and neuroimaging (e.g., Human Brain Mapping), and meet with mentors regularly. The candidate plans to submit for a R01 grant toward the end of the award period. Long term, he plans to found an independent research career examining the relationship between brain structure and behavior in substance abuse. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Individuals who are dependent on methamphetamine (MA) have been found to have cognitive difficulties, but the extent to which these difficulties are attributable to MA consumption is unclear. The current project seeks to improve the measurement of cognitive decline associated with MA dependence, and identify risk factors for this decline. Knowledge of risk factors for cognitive decline can be used to assist prevention and treatment efforts.