Involvement of the Septal Nuclei of the Human Brain in Alcohol Use Disorder
Involvement of the Septal Nuclei of the Human Brain in Alcohol Use Disorder - a Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study
Anders Fink-Jensen, MD, DMSci
25 participants
May 7, 2025
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
Alcohol activates reward systems in different brain areas, i.e., the nucleus accumbens, dorsal striatum, extended amygdala, and prefrontal cortex. These areas are all part of the reward neurocircuitry, which plays an important role in the development of addiction. A former study performed on rodents has shown that a specific area of the forebrain, the septal nuclei, is associated with the feeling of reward and, hence, addiction when stimulated. However, whether the septal area is involved in reward and addiction in humans is sparsely investigated. The purpose of this brain-imaging study is to assess how the septal nuclei react to alcohol-related pictures shown to participants diagnosed with alcohol use disorder while lying in an MRI scanner, compared to people without a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder. This might give us a better understanding of how the septal nuclei is involved in reward and addiction.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria3
- Diagnosed with alcohol use disorder (AUD) according to DSM-5, and alcohol dependence according to ICD-10
- An Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) score ≥ 15
- At least six heavy drinking days for the last 30 days, measured with the Time Line Follow Back (TLFB) method
Exclusion Criteria14
- Diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorder, paranoid psychosis, bipolar disorder, or mental retardation
- Previous or current substance use disorder other than AUD and nicotine use disorder
- History of alcohol withdrawal seizures within the past 5 years
- Alcohol withdrawal symptoms defined as a CIWA-Ar score > 9 at screening or at the fMRI session
- Treatment with chlordiazepoxide or other benzodiazepine within the past 30 days
- Other pharmacological treatment for AUD within the past 30 days
- Treatment with GLP-1 analogues within the last 6 months
- Urine tests positive for psychoactive drugs (cocaine, amphetamine, TCH, methadone, opioids, and benzodiazepines) at screening
- DUDIT score ≥ 2/6 for females/males
- Contraindications for undergoing an fMRI scan (magnetic implants, metal splinters, pacemaker, claustrophobia, etc.)
- Females of childbearing potential who are either pregnant, breastfeeding or have the intention of becoming pregnant within the next month or are not using contraception appropriate for participating in a clinical study
- Pregnancy (positive urine pregnancy test)
- Unable to speak or understand Danish
- Any condition that the investigator feels would interfere with trial participation
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Interventions
fMRI session with the ALCUE paradigme.
Locations(1)
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NCT06866379