Understanding Brain Changes in Adolescent Substance Use with a Special MRI
Neuromelanin MRI: A tool for non-invasive investigation of dopaminergic abnormalities in adolescent substance use.
This research uses a safe MRI scan to understand how brain chemistry changes in young people who use substances like alcohol and marijuana.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University New York Stony Brook NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stony Brook, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11120979 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many young people who use substances show changes in their brain's dopamine system, which affects reward and motivation. It's not clear if these changes happen before substance use begins, or if substance use causes them, and how they might differ between sexes. Traditional brain imaging methods that use radiation are not safe for children and adolescents, making it hard to track these changes over time. This project uses a special type of MRI, called neuromelanin-sensitive MRI, which is safe and can help us see how dopamine-producing brain cells are affected in young people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future related studies would be adolescents and young adults who are engaging in high-risk substance use.
Not a fit: Patients who do not use substances or are outside the adolescent and young adult age range may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help us better understand the causes of substance use disorders in youth and develop new ways to prevent or treat them.
How similar studies have performed: Previous findings have shown that this special MRI signal in young adults correlates with lifetime exposure to alcohol and marijuana, suggesting its potential usefulness.
Where this research is happening
Stony Brook, United States
- State University New York Stony Brook — Stony Brook, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Perlman, Greg — State University New York Stony Brook
- Study coordinator: Perlman, Greg
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.