A recent study by researchers at Stony Brook University has identified a potential link between substance use and increased neuromelanin levels in the midbrain of young adults. The study utilized neuromelanin-sensitive MRI, a specialized imaging technique, to examine individuals aged 20 to 24 with a history of alcohol and drug use. The findings were published in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
The research team, from the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at the Renaissance School of Medicine, analyzed data from 135 participants, including 105 women and 30 men. Neuromelanin naturally accumulates in midbrain areas where dopamine is produced. Dopamine is crucial for various cognitive functions and plays a central role in the brain's reward system. Studying dopamine in young people poses challenges, but neuromelanin-sensitive MRI offers a safe method to investigate its accumulation.
Greg Perlman, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health and lead author of the study, stated: “Young adults who regularly engage in substance use appear to show greater than normal levels of neuromelanin accumulation on this type of MRI scan, especially young women.” He highlighted that previous research primarily focused on older adults with long-term substance use histories. This study aims to fill gaps regarding dopamine system health in younger populations after shorter periods of substance use.
Perlman noted that the association between substance use and increased neuromelanin was particularly pronounced in certain midbrain regions among young women, such as the ventral tegmental area. However, this increase was linked to general substance use rather than specific drugs.
The team is now conducting further research using neuromelanin-sensitive MRI on teenagers aged 14 to 17. This ongoing study will involve annual scans to assess how life experiences like alcohol consumption, social media engagement, and stress impact neuromelanin accumulation over time.
Funding for this work comes partly from the National Institute on Drug Abuse under the National Institutes of Health.