Mega-Analysis of Gray Matter Volume in Substance Dependence: General and Substance-Specific Regional Effects

What is it about?

Although lower brain volume has been routinely observed in individuals with substance dependence compared to non-dependent controls, the brain regions exhibiting lower volume have not been consistent across studies. Here, we performed a mega-analysis on grey matter volume in 3,240 individuals of whom 2,140 had substance dependence on one of five substances: alcohol, nicotine, cocaine, methamphetamine, or cannabis. Brain volume was lower in many brain regions in individuals with substance dependence. The greatest effects were associated with alcohol dependence. However, the volume of a core set of brain regions was related to dependence regardless of the substance.

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