A fMRI study with Alcohol Use Disorder patients: what is the difference of brain activity between severity of patients

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K16661
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 52030:Psychiatry-related
• Research Institution: National Hospital Organization, Hizen Psychiatric Center
• Principal Investigator: Fukushima Shou 独立行政法人国立病院機構肥前精神医療センター(臨床研究部), 臨床研究部, 医師 (00727000)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 扁桃体 / 尾状核 / 楔前部

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To date, 17 patients with severe Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), 3 with moderate AUD, and 12 healthy subjects have been imaged. Brain responses were compared between the two groups of patients with severe AUD and normal subjects. Group analysis using the amygdala, caudate nucleus, and precuneus as regions of interest revealed that the BOLD response of AUD patients was significantly higher than that of normal subjects,
The BOLD responses of AUD patients were significantly higher (p=0.034) to videos of non-alcoholic beer, significantly lower (p=0.022) to videos of orange juice, and significantly higher (p=0.027) to videos of non-alcoholic beer, compared to healthy subjects. It was thought that there was some impairment in certain networks in the amygdala, caudate nucleus, and precuneus.

Free Research Field

アルコール使用障害患者の脳機能画像

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

改めて、AUD重症患者は、正常と比較して脳機能が異なることが示された。また、扁桃体、尾状核、楔前部の部位の反応が二群間で有意差を認めたが、扁桃体はアルコールのストレス緩和作用の根底にある神経基質ではないかという先行研究もあり、AUD重症者は高い不安と過剰な飲酒行動を維持していることを示唆しているかもしれない。
AUD重症患者群は、アルコール飲料動画だけでなくノンアルコールビール動画に対しても脳機能画像上、活動が高まっていた。臨床的にもAUD患者はノンアルコールビールで飲酒欲求が高まることも珍しくないが、今回の研究結果はそれを示唆しているのかもしれない。