Widespread Cortical Thickness Reductions Following Non-medical Use of Ketamine: a Structural MRI Study of Individuals with Ketamine Dependence
medRxiv Preprint Server – February 21, 2021
Source: medRxiv
Summary
Non-medical ketamine use is linked to specific brain changes, prompting a look at its impact on brain thickness. Researchers hypothesized long-term use might alter cortical thickness. Using precise MRI scans, clear evidence emerged: individuals with ketamine dependence showed widespread reductions in brain cortical thickness. This robustly confirms the significant impact of non-medical ketamine on brain health.
Abstract
Background A version of ketamine, called Esketamine has been approved for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Ketamine (“K powder”), a “dissociative” anesthetic agent, however, has been used non-medically alone or with other illicit substances. Our previous studies showed a link between non-medical ketamine use and brain structural and functional alterations. We found dorsal prefrontal gray matter reduction in chronic ketamine users. It is unknown, however, whether these observations might parallel findings of cortical thickness alterations. This study aimed at exploring cortical thickness abnormalities following non-medical, long-term use of ketamine.