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Cocaine Stunts Brain Development in Men

These MRI results suggest that chronic exposure to cocaine may inhibit myelination of the brain, perhaps hindering information processing in addicts.

Myelination of white matter in the frontal and temporal lobes, which continues into the mid-40s, facilitates neuronal transmission and, to some extent, may compensate for normal age-related loss of gray matter. Results from this MRI study of 34 men with cocaine dependence (mean age, 38) and 55 healthy controls (mean age, 31) suggest that chronic exposure to cocaine may inhibit adult myelination of the brain.

Frontal and temporal white-matter volumes were found to increase significantly with age in controls but not in cocaine-dependent participants. The results were not explained by comorbid alcohol dependence.

Comment: Cocaine's interference with the process of myelination could adversely affect information processing and problem solving, which in turn could lead to more cocaine use because of the individual's declining ability to cope with ordinary stress. The authors note that microvascular or other effects of cocaine or factors associated with the cocaine lifestyle may cause decreased myelination. Regardless of the mechanism, cocaine users should be warned about the drug's long-term effect on the brain.

— Steven Dubovsky, MD

Published in Journal Watch Psychiatry June 5, 2002

Citation(s):

Bartzokis G et al. Brain maturation may be arrested in chronic cocaine addicts. Biol Psychiatry 2002 Apr 15; 51:605-11.

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