Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 Jul 21;59(5):agae055.
doi: 10.1093/alcalc/agae055.

Pro-atherogenic medical conditions are associated with widespread regional brain metabolite abnormalities in those with alcohol use disorder

Timothy C Durazzo  1   2 , Eric P Kraybill  1 , Lauren H Stephens  2 , April C May  1   2 , Dieter J Meyerhoff  3   4
Affiliations

Pro-atherogenic medical conditions are associated with widespread regional brain metabolite abnormalities in those with alcohol use disorder

Timothy C Durazzo et al. Alcohol Alcohol. .

Abstract

Aims: Widespread brain metabolite abnormalities in those with alcohol use disorder (AUD) were reported in numerous studies, but the effects of the pro-atherogenic conditions of hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hepatitis C seropositivity, and hyperlipidemia on metabolite levels were not considered. These conditions were associated with brain metabolite abnormalities in those without AUD. We predicted treatment-seeking individuals with AUD and pro-atherogenic conditions (Atherogenic+) demonstrate lower regional metabolite markers of neuronal viability [N-acetylaspartate (NAA)] and cell membrane turnover/synthesis [choline-containing compounds (Cho)], compared with those with AUD without pro-atherogenic conditions (Atherogenic-) and healthy controls (CON).

Methods: Atherogenic+ (n = 59) and Atherogenic- (n = 51) and CON (n = 49) completed a 1.5 T proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging study. Groups were compared on NAA, Cho, total creatine, and myoinositol in cortical gray matter (GM), white matter (WM), and select subcortical regions.

Results: Atherogenic+ had lower frontal GM and temporal WM NAA than CON. Atherogenic+ showed lower parietal GM, frontal, parietal and occipital WM and lenticular nuclei NAA level than Atherogenic- and CON. Atherogenic- showed lower frontal GM and WM NAA than CON. Atherogenic+ had lower Cho level than CON in the frontal GM, parietal WM, and thalamus. Atherogenic+ showed lower frontal WM and cerebellar vermis Cho than Atherogenic- and CON.

Conclusions: Findings suggest proatherogenic conditions in those with AUD were associated with increased compromise of neuronal integrity and cell membrane turnover/synthesis. The greater metabolite abnormalities observed in Atherogenic+ may relate to increased oxidative stress-related compromise of neuronal and glial cell structure and/or impaired arterial vasoreactivity/lumen viability.

Keywords: N-acetylaspartate; alcohol use disorder; atherosclerosis; choline-containing compounds; medical comorbidities.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Adinolfi LE, Zampino R, Restivo L. et al. Chronic hepatitis C virus infection and atherosclerosis: clinical impact and mechanisms. World J Gastroenterol 2014;20:3410–7. 10.3748/wjg.v20.i13.3410. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Alosco ML, Gunstad J, Jerskey BA. et al. The adverse effects of reduced cerebral perfusion on cognition and brain structure in older adults with cardiovascular disease. Brain Behav 2013;3:626–36. 10.1002/brb3.171. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Alosco ML, Gunstad J, Xu X. et al. The impact of hypertension on cerebral perfusion and cortical thickness in older adults. J Am Soc Hyperten: JASH 2014;8:561–70. 10.1016/j.jash.2014.04.002. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Chang L, Jiang CS, Ernst T. Effects of age and sex on brain glutamate and other metabolites. Magn Reson Imaging 2009;27:142–5. 10.1016/j.mri.2008.06.002. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Chang L, Munsaka SM, Kraft-Terry S. et al. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy to assess neuroInflammation and neuropathic pain. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2013;8:576–93. 10.1007/s11481-013-9460-x. - DOI - PMC - PubMed