Alterações de Neuroimagem Resultantes do Consumo de Drogas Ilícitas e Álcool ; NEUROIMAGING ALTERATIONS RESULTING FROM ALCOHOL AND ILLICIT DRUGS CONSUMPTION

Trabalho Final do Mestrado Integrado em Medicina apresentado à Faculdade de Medicina ; Substance use disorder represents a major challenge for society, both in terms of individual suffering and socioeconomic costs. In addition to high alcohol consumption, the most used illicit drugs in Portugal are cannabis, cocaine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine. This narrative review aims to assess which regions are most affected by different consumption and the possible mechanisms involved.For this, a bibliographical research was carried out in PubMed and Embase where the terms used were both in controlled language (Mesh and Emtree), and in free language. We obtained a total of 49 articles after applying exclusion and inclusion criteria.In this narrative review, we verified changes in neuroimaging volume, white matter, gray atter, activity, connectivity, and perfusion. In conclusion, the main areas supported by the consumption of the substances treated in this review are the insula, the corpus callosum, the prefrontal cortex, the orbitofrontal cortex, the cerebellum, the striatum, the inferior and superior longitudinal fasciculus, the gyrus frontalis, the temporal gyrus, and cingulate cortex. These alterations are associated with deficits in flexibility and cognitive functions, working memory, psychomotor performance, reward processing, risk prediction, response following, decision making, a greater desire to consume and impulsivity.In the consumption of alcohol, cocaine and methamphetamines, the numbers and severity of existing neuroimaging alterations are remarkable, appearing to be closely linked to mechanisms of neuroinflammation. We also verified that in these consumptions there was a decrease of dopamine D2/D3 receptors in the striatum.This review reflects the most recent information available on neuroimaging changes from illicit drugs and alcohol. Creating a good basis for the emergence of new studies in the area that can fill possible gaps currently existing. ; A perturbação por uso de substâncias representa um ...