O063
Brain connectivity patterns associated with duration of abstinence in methamphetamine use disorder
G. Zhong 1,*, M. N. Potenza 2, J. Du 1, M. Zhao 1
1Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China, 2Department of Psychiatry and the Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; the Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, United States
Introduction: Methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) represents a significant public health crisis characterized by neurobiological abnormalities. While neurofunctional variations across abstinence stages are documented, brain connectivity patterns associated with abstinence duration remain poorly characterized.
Objectives: In this cross-sectional study, we characterized brain connectivity patterns associated with abstinence duration in MUD. We hypothesized that whole-brain functional connectivity patterns would covary with abstinence duration in MUD.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to apply connectome-based predictive modeling (CPM) to resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from MUD participants to identify abstinence-duration-associated connectivity patterns (Figure 1A). These patterns were validated in a separate, heterogeneous sample (Figure 1B). We subsequently conducted exploratory analyses to compare connectivity strength between MUD participants and healthy comparison subjects (HCs; Figure 1C) and examine connectivity variations across abstinence stages (<1 month, 1-3 months, 3-6 months, and 6-24 months) (Figure 1D).
Results: Applying connectome-based predictive modeling with leave-one-out cross-validation to resting-state functional connectivity data from MUD participants stratified by abstinence duration (<1 month, 1-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-24 months; total N=85), we identified patterns significantly associated with abstinence duration (r = 0.51, P < .001) (Figure 2), validated in an independent cohort (N=48, r = 0.41, P < .004). These patterns comprised positive components showing strengthened within-network connectivity in motor/sensory, subcortical, and medial frontal networks, and enhanced between-network connectivity involving motor/sensory, cerebellum/brainstem, and subcortical networks; and negative components demonstrating reduced connectivity between motor/sensory and default mode networks, as well as among motor/sensory, medial frontal, and visual association networks (Figure 2). Exploratory analyses revealed systematic variation in strength, with healthy comparison subjects exhibiting intermediate connectivity relative to short-term (<1 month) versus prolonged (6–24 months) abstinent MUD individuals (Figure 3).
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Conclusions: In summary, this cross-sectional study identified abstinence-duration-associated connectivity patterns that covary with time abstinent from methamphetamine. Connectivity strength within these patterns demonstrated a significant association with abstinence duration across cohorts, revealing systematic variation along the abstinence continuum. These findings suggest dynamic neurofunctional reorganization during sustained abstinence from methamphetamine use.
Disclosure of Interest: None Declared