MRI findings hold clues for treating alcohol use disorder
New MRI data could help guide providers in more effectively treating patients with alcohol use disorders (AUD).
The findings suggest that tolcapone—a drug commonly used to treat Parkinson’s disease—could help enhance connectivity in brain regions associated with self-control and emotional regulation. On MRI, patients with known AUD showed increased activity in parts of the prefrontal cortex after being treated with the medication for eight days. This, experts involved in the research suggest, could hint that off-label use of the drug may be an effective treatment for AUD.
“We desperately need new pharmacological treatments for AUD. Our study shifts the focus to ‘rescuing’ impaired inhibitory control, which is the brain's ability to stop unwanted thoughts or actions, a function often compromised in AUD,“ said senior author Joseph P. Schacht, PhD, with the department of psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. “Our study suggests that medications that increase prefrontal dopamine are an important lead to pursue.”
Tolcapone is drug that boosts dopamine by suppressing catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), an enzyme that degrades dopamine. In the team’s study, participants were either given tolcapone or a placebo for eight days. Each participant underwent functional MR imaging while completing a “stop signal” task at the start and finish of the time period.
Individuals had to prevent themselves from pressing a button during certain trials, which in turn activated parts of the prefrontal cortex involved in inhibitory processes. This allowed researchers to observe activity in these areas in real time.
Based on the fMRI blood oxygenation responses observed, researchers determined the tolcapone group showed greater activation in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and inferior frontal gyrus (iFG). These findings also correlated with superior inhibitory control among the group compared to those who were given the placebo. What’s more, greater connectivity between the iFG and right anterior insula was associated with reduced drinking—an unexpected finding, the authors said.
“Based on previous studies, we anticipated that greater inferior frontal gyrus activation would be associated with better behavioral control, but we were pleasantly surprised to find that it was also associated with reduced alcohol consumption,” lead author Drew E. Winters, PhD, from the department of psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine noted. “This association validates the importance of impaired control in the pathophysiology of AUD.“
The team suggested their findings support further research into how increased cortical dopamine can regulate inhibitory behaviors in AUD.
Learn more about the findings here.
In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She began covering the medical imaging industry for Innovate Healthcare in 2021.