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Abstract #4109

Structural and neurochemical changes in the anterior cingulate cortex of nicotine-dependent users

Humberto Monsivais1, Francesco Versace2, Jelena Salvador2, Alexandra Baldizon2, Max Wintermark3, and Brian A. Taylor1
1Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States, 2Department of Behavioral Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States, 3Department of Neuroradiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States

Synopsis

Keywords: Psychiatric Disorders, Spectroscopy, smoking, cortical thickness, anterior cingulate cortex

Motivation: Advanced neuroimaging tools can be used to gain a better understanding of the neurocircuitry and physiology of substance use disorders (SUDs), aiding in the development of targeted treatments for affected patients.

Goal(s): Our goal was to assess structural and neurochemical changes in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) of nicotine-dependent users.

Approach: 51 healthy controls and 51 smokers were recruited to undergo our neuroimaging study.

Results: We found altered gray matter cortical thickness in the ACC and a significant decrease of NAA in the dorsal ACC of smokers when compared to controls.

Impact: Our early findings align with prior research linking cigarette use to structural/neurochemical brain changes in reward-related regions. Next, we will further advance in our multi-parametric neuroimaging study to investigate how our findings relate to behavior, brain function, and addiction severity.

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