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2026-05-19 |
https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9402530/v1 |
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Altered resting-state functional connectivity in patients with alcohol use disorder and first-degree relatives: a group independent component analysis |
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Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is associated with widespread functional changes across the brain, particularly within networks supporting executive control, attention, and self-referential processing. However, it remains unclear whether similar neural patterns are present in first-degree relatives (FDRs) of individuals with AUD, who have increased genetic and environmental risk to develop the disorder. We examined resting-state functional connectivity differences within large-scale brain networks among 19 AUD patients, 12 FDRs, and 24 healthy controls (HCs), and assessed associations with abstinence duration in AUD. Grey matter volume was also assessed using voxel-based morphometry. Compared with HCs, AUD patients showed increased connectivity within the frontoparietal (FPN) and default mode network (DMN). FDRs also exhibited altered FPN and DMN connectivity relative to HCs, suggesting a possible familial or exposure-related effect. Additionally, FDRs showed heightened precentral connectivity and reduced precuneus connectivity within the sensorimotor network (SMN). Within the AUD group, longer abstinence duration was associated with increased FPN connectivity and decreased connectivity within the salience (SN) and dorsal attention network (DAN), consistent with partial functional normalization. No significant group differences were observed in grey matter volume. Overall, these findings highlight both persistent and potentially reversible alterations in large-scale brain networks associated with chronic alcohol exposure. Identifying common network-level connectivity patterns in AUD patients and FDRs can inform our understanding of neural correlates relevant to vulnerability to alcohol-related disorders.
Gramegna, C., Habel, U., Schmahl, C., & Weidler, C. (2026). Altered resting-state functional connectivity in patients with alcohol use disorder and first-degree relatives: a group independent component analysis. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9402530/v1
