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Problematic alcohol use and hippocampal volume in a female sample: disentangling cause from consequence using a co-twin control study design

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 November 2017

Sylia Wilson ,
Stephen M. Malone ,
Ruskin H. Hunt ,
Kathleen M. Thomas  and
William G. Iacono
Sylia Wilson*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, 75 East River Rd, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
Stephen M. Malone
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, 75 East River Rd, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
Ruskin H. Hunt
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, 75 East River Rd, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
Kathleen M. Thomas
Affiliation:
Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, 51 E River Rd, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
William G. Iacono
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, 75 East River Rd, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
*
Address for correspondence: Sylia Wilson, E-mail: syliaw@umn.edu
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Abstract

Background

Although there is extensive evidence that problematic alcohol use is associated with smaller hippocampal volume, the typical cross-sectional study design cannot determine whether hippocampal deviations reflect pre-existing liability toward problematic alcohol use or instead reflect an alcohol exposure-related effect. We used the co-twin control study design, which capitalizes upon differences within a twin pair in levels of drinking, to differentiate pre-existing liability from an effect of alcohol exposure.

Methods

The sample included 100 female twins, prospectively assessed from ages 11 to 24. Problematic alcohol use was assessed dimensionally and included indicators of quantity, frequency, and density of alcohol use and intoxication. Hippocampal volume was assessed using magnetic resonance imaging.

Results

Problematic alcohol use (proximal and cumulative) was associated with significantly smaller left and right hippocampal volume. Follow-up co-twin control analyses that partitioned individual-level alcohol effects into pre-existing, familial liability and non-shared alcohol exposure-related effects indicated that this association reflected alcohol exposure. Greater alcohol using twins had smaller hippocampal volume relative to lesser alcohol using co-twins, beyond effects of their shared genetic and environmental liability toward problematic alcohol use. Results held accounting for recent alcohol use, other substance use, externalizing and internalizing psychopathology, personality traits, trauma exposure, and menstrual phase.

Conclusions

The association between problematic alcohol use and smaller hippocampal volume likely reflects an alcohol exposure-related effect. Differentiating pre-existing brain deviations that confer risk for problematic alcohol use from those that reflect effects of alcohol on the brain will inform etiological models of addiction and further prevention and intervention efforts.

Keywords

Alcohol useco-twin control studyhippocampal volume
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 48 , Issue 10 , July 2018 , pp. 1673 - 1684
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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