Alcohol induces neuroinflammation but its role in cognitive impairment and impulsivity in alcohol use disorder (AUD) has been poorly investigated. We used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy to measure brain glutamate (Glu) levels and diffusion-weighted imaging to measure functional anisotropy (FA) in the thalamus and ventral anterior cingulate cortex (vACC) in 15 recently detoxified patients with AUD and 14 matched controls. Compared to controls, AUD patients showed higher Glu levels (p = 0.04) and lower FA in the thalamus (p = 0.04) but not in the vACC. In AUD, thalamic Glu levels (r = 0.62, p = 0.019) and FA (r=-0.55, p = 0.034) were associated with severity of drinking (drinks/week). Compared to controls, AUD patients showed higher scores on Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scale for impulsivity (p = 0.03), which correlated with glutamate levels in the thalamus (r = 0.58, p = 0.03) and vACC (r = 0.55, p = 0.036). In a second cohort of AUD patients (n = 32), Glu in dorsal ACC (dACC) also correlated with Barrett Impulsiveness Scale total score (r = 0.43, p = 0.014). We interpret the elevated thalamic Glu levels and the parallel reduction in FA in AUD-which correlated with drinking severity-as possible evidence of neurotoxicity from neuroinflammation. The association of Glu with impulsivity suggests that neurotoxic effects of chronic alcohol exposure in the thalamus and dACC may contribute to impulsivity.

中文翻译：

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酒精使用障碍中丘脑谷氨酸水平升高和水扩散性降低：与冲动有关

酒精会诱发神经炎症，但其在酒精使用障碍 (AUD) 中的认知障碍和冲动中的作用尚未得到很好的研究。我们使用质子磁共振波谱测量脑谷氨酸 (Glu) 水平，并使用扩散加权成像测量 15 名最近解毒的 AUD 患者和 14 名匹配对照的丘脑和腹侧前扣带皮层 (vACC) 的功能各向异性 (FA)。与对照组相比，AUD 患者在丘脑中显示出更高的 Glu 水平 (p = 0.04) 和更低的 FA (p = 0.04)，但在 vACC 中没有。在澳元中，丘脑 Glu 水平 (r = 0.62, p = 0.019) 和 FA (r=-0.55, p = 0.034) 与饮酒的严重程度（饮酒/周）相关。与对照组相比，AUD 患者在康纳斯成人多动症评估量表上的冲动性得分更高（p = 0.03），这与丘脑 (r = 0.58, p = 0.03) 和 vACC (r = 0.55, p = 0.036) 中的谷氨酸水平相关。在第二组 AUD 患者 (n = 32) 中，背侧 ACC (dACC) 中的 Glu 也与 Barrett Impulsiveness Scale 总分相关 (r = 0.43, p = 0.014)。我们将升高的丘脑 Glu 水平和 AUD 中 FA 的平行降低（与饮酒严重程度相关）解释为神经炎症引起的神经毒性的可能证据。Glu 与冲动性的关联表明，丘脑和 dACC 中慢性酒精暴露的神经毒性作用可能导致冲动性。我们将升高的丘脑 Glu 水平和 AUD 中 FA 的平行降低（与饮酒严重程度相关）解释为神经炎症引起的神经毒性的可能证据。Glu 与冲动性的关联表明，丘脑和 dACC 中慢性酒精暴露的神经毒性作用可能导致冲动性。我们将升高的丘脑 Glu 水平和 AUD 中 FA 的平行降低（与饮酒严重程度相关）解释为神经炎症引起的神经毒性的可能证据。Glu 与冲动性的关联表明，丘脑和 dACC 中慢性酒精暴露的神经毒性作用可能导致冲动性。