Altered Anterior Cingulate Neurochemistry in Emerging Adult Binge Drinkers with a History of Alcohol-Induced Blackouts

• Published in: Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research Vol. 38; no. 4; pp. 969 - 979
• Main Authors: Silveri, Marisa M., Cohen-Gilbert, Julia, Crowley, David J., Rosso, Isabelle M., Jensen, J. Eric, Sneider, Jennifer T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.04.2014; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adolescent; Alcohol-Induced Disorders - diagnosis; Alcohol-Induced Disorders - metabolism; Amnesia, Retrograde - chemically induced; Amnesia, Retrograde - diagnosis; Amnesia, Retrograde - metabolism; Anterior Cingulate Cortex; Binge Alcohol; Binge Drinking - diagnosis; Binge Drinking - metabolism; Emerging Adult; Female; Gamma Amino-Butyric Acid; Gyrus Cinguli - chemistry; Gyrus Cinguli - metabolism; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy - methods; Male; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult; Binge Alcohol; Emerging Adult; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Gamma Amino-Butyric Acid; Anterior Cingulate Cortex
• ISSN: 0145-6008; 1530-0277
• DOI: 10.1111/acer.12346

Background Binge alcohol consumption is associated with multiple neurobiological consequences, including altered neurophysiology, brain structure, and functional activation. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) studies have demonstrated neurochemical alterations in the frontal lobe of alcohol users, although most studies focused on older, alcohol‐dependent subjects. Methods In this study, neurochemical data were acquired using MRS at 4.0 Tesla from emerging adults (18 to 24 years old) who were binge alcohol drinkers (BD, n = 23) or light drinkers (LD, n = 31). Since binge drinking is also associated with increased prevalence of experiencing an alcohol‐induced blackout, BD were stratified into alcohol‐induced blackout (BDBO) and non‐blackout (BDN) groups. Results Overall, BD had significantly lower gamma amino‐butyric acid (GABA) and N‐acetyl‐aspartate (NAA) in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) than LD. When stratified by blackout history, BDBO also had lower ACC glutamate (Glu) than LD. No group differences in MRS metabolites were observed in the parietal‐occipital cortex. Lower ACC GABA and Glu remained significant after accounting for lower gray matter content in BD, however, NAA differences were no longer evident. In addition, low ACC GABA levels were associated with greater alcohol use consequences, and worse response inhibition and attention/mental flexibility in BD. Conclusions These data indicate that binge drinking affects frontal lobe neurochemistry, more so in those who had experienced an alcohol‐induced blackout. Characterization of the neurochemical profiles associated with binge alcohol consumption and blackout history may help identify unique risk factors for the later manifestation of alcohol abuse and dependence, in young individuals who are heavy, frequent drinkers, but who do not meet the criteria for alcohol abuse disorders.