Yosef A. Berlow1,2, David L. Lahna3,4,
Daniel L. Schwartz3,4, Alex D. Mitchell5, Alexander A.
Stevens2,3, William D. Rooney1,2, William F. Hoffman3,5
1Advanced Imaging Research
Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States; 2Department
of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland,
OR, United States; 3Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health &
Science University, Portland, OR, United States; 4Methamphetamine
Abuse Research Center, Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland,
OR, United States; 5Mental Health & Clinical Neurosciences
Division, Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland, OR, United
States
Animal models have demonstrated that methamphetamine (MA) administration is associated with increased iron accumulation in the basal ganglia. This study used MRI techniques to investigate the effects of MA abuse on iron accumulation in human MA users. T2 weighted images from 37 individuals with a history of MA dependence and 33 control subjects were compared using region of interest and voxelwise approaches. Individuals with a history of MA dependence had lower T2 signal intensities in the caudate and putamen, consistent with increased iron accumulation. These results provide evidence that iron accumulation within the striatum is increased in human MA users.