Brain Structure Predictors of Substance Use in Adolescence

描述（由申请人提供）：神经影像学研究已经确定了整个青春期和成年早期正在进行的神经组织发育。髓鞘形成和白色物质（WM）完整性的增加沿着灰质（GM）皮质厚度的减少（例如，修剪）被认为可以加强突触连接，并允许大脑区域之间的有效通信。青少年从事物质使用行为的风险增加，并且有问题的使用通常在这个发育时期开始达到高峰。WM微观结构的完整性和GM皮质厚度之间的关系才开始在青少年人群中进行探索，横截面研究显示物质滥用和宏观结构和微观结构神经组织状态之间的关系。研究表明，青春期的冒险行为有很大的神经生物学成分，但风险行为的生物学基础之间的联系尚未明确界定。这是可能的，WM的完整性和GM皮质厚度的指标结合使用，将有助于我们了解两个常用的结构成像测量的预测有效性，特别是他们的效用，在预测未来的青少年物质使用。因此，本研究将利用扩散张量成像（DTI）和结构磁共振成像（sMRI）检查WM完整性和GM皮质厚度对真实的冒险行为（如药物和酒精使用）的影响，在基线时16-18岁的青少年中测量36个月的时间间隔。如果经验支持存在WM的完整性和GM皮质厚度作为物质使用行为的预测因子，这些措施可以用来帮助识别青少年物质使用障碍的风险。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Neuroimaging studies have identified ongoing neural tissue development throughout adolescence and early adulthood. Increases in myelination and white matter (WM) integrity along with decreases in gray matter (GM) cortical thickness (e.g., pruning) are thought to strengthen synaptic connections and allow for efficient communication between brain regions. Adolescents are at increased risk for engaging in substance use behaviors, and problematic use often begins to peak during this developmental time period. The relationship between WM microstructural integrity and GM cortical thickness is only beginning to be explored in adolescent populations, with cross sectional studies showing relationships between substance misuse and both macrostructural and microstructural neural tissue status. Research has shown a large neurobiological component to risk taking behaviors during adolescence, however the link between the biological underpinnings of risky behaviors has not been clearly defined. It is possible that indices of WM integrity and GM cortical thickness used in conjunction will help us understand the predictive validity of two commonly used structural imaging measurements, particularly their utility in predicting future adolescent substance use. Therefore, this study will utilize diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) to examine the influence of WM integrity and GM cortical thickness on real world risk taking behaviors such as drug and alcohol use, measured over a 36-month interval in adolescents ages 16-18 at baseline. If empirical support exists for WM integrity and GM cortical thickness as predictors of substance use behaviors, these measures may be used to help identify teens at risk for substance use disorders.