The goal of this exploratory/developmental project is to investigate neurobiological mechanisms of adolescent alcohol dependence utilizing and refining functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) procedures and protocol. Alcohol involvement is prevalent during adolescence, but little is known regarding its influence on cognition. Our previous studies suggested that severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms predicts neuropsychological impairments in adolescents. fMRI is a noninvasive and safe technique for examining brain functioning. However, several challenges remain for its implementation with alcohol dependent adolescents, including minimizing motion artifact, maximizing participant compliance and comfort, and characterizing normal adolescent brain activation patterns. This project seeks to characterize neural consequences of heavy drinking during adolescence by evaluating hemodynamic changes in brain regions of alcohol dependent teens and controls during performance of cognitive challenge and alcohol cue exposure tasks. In addition, we hope to refine fMRI protocol and procedures for use with alcohol dependent adolescents.
Our specific aims are: 1) to investigate activation patterns in brain regions that may be influenced by adolescent alcohol dependence and withdrawal, 2) to examine brain activation patterns associated with craving and processing alcohol-related information in teens with varied alcohol involvement histories, and 3) to optimize FMRI procedures for use with alcohol dependent adolescents. To achieve these aims, 20 alcohol dependent teens and 20 demographically matched controls will be presented with tasks designed to activate brain regions potentially involved in adolescent alcohol dependence in the fMRI environment. We hypothesize that alcohol dependent adolescents and controls will differ in brain activation patterns, both as a consequence of excessive drinking as well as in response to alcohol cues. Results will help characterize brain regions affected by heavy drinking and involved in craving states among adolescents. Resulting protocol refinement and pilot data will be used in developing a broader research program investigating neural aspects of protracted alcohol use, alcohol-related information processing, craving, etiological factors of early drinking, and predictors of future alcohol problems and problem recovery. The longer-term goal of this program of research is to develop targeted therapies for adolescents with alcohol use disorders.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
5R21AA012519-02
Application #
6371607
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAA1-EE (02))
Program Officer
Witt, Ellen
Project Start
2000-04-01
Project End
2002-09-30
Budget Start
2001-04-01
Budget End
2002-09-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2001
Total Cost
$96,146
Indirect Cost
Name
Veterans Medical Research Fdn/San Diego
Department
Type
DUNS #
933863508
City
San Diego
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92161
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Medina, Krista Lisdahl; Schweinsburg, Alecia D; Cohen-Zion, Mairav et al. (2007) Effects of alcohol and combined marijuana and alcohol use during adolescence on hippocampal volume and asymmetry. Neurotoxicol Teratol 29:141-52
Riggs, Paula D; Thompson, Laetitia L; Tapert, Susan F et al. (2007) Advances in neurobiological research related to interventions in adolescents with substance use disorders: research to practice. Drug Alcohol Depend 91:306-11
Clark, Camellia P; Brown, Gregory G; Eyler, Lisa T et al. (2007) Decreased perfusion in young alcohol-dependent women as compared with age-matched controls. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 33:13-9
Nagel, Bonnie J; Medina, Krista Lisdahl; Yoshii, June et al. (2006) Age-related changes in prefrontal white matter volume across adolescence. Neuroreport 17:1427-31
Caldwell, Lisa C; Schweinsburg, Alecia D; Nagel, Bonnie J et al. (2005) Gender and adolescent alcohol use disorders on BOLD (blood oxygen level dependent) response to spatial working memory. Alcohol Alcohol 40:194-200
Schweinsburg, Alecia D; Nagel, Bonnie J; Tapert, Susan F (2005) fMRI reveals alteration of spatial working memory networks across adolescence. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 11:631-44
Schweinsburg, Alecia D; Schweinsburg, Brian C; Cheung, Erick H et al. (2005) fMRI response to spatial working memory in adolescents with comorbid marijuana and alcohol use disorders. Drug Alcohol Depend 79:201-10
Nagel, Bonnie J; Schweinsburg, Alecia D; Phan, Vinh et al. (2005) Reduced hippocampal volume among adolescents with alcohol use disorders without psychiatric comorbidity. Psychiatry Res 139:181-90
Nagel, Bonnie J; Barlett, Valerie C; Schweinsburg, Alecia D et al. (2005) Neuropsychological predictors of BOLD response during a spatial working memory task in adolescents: what can performance tell us about fMRI response patterns? J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 27:823-39

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