Brain gray matter volume and functional connectivity are associated with smoking cessation outcomes.

Introduction:
This text is a summary of a research article on the relationship between brain morphometry characteristics and functional connectivity differences and smoking cessation. The study found that smokers with different cessation outcomes might have different GM volume and FC strength at baseline, especially in brain regions within the reward circuit and cognitive control circuit.

Key Points:

* The study enrolled 114 subjects, including 73 cigarette smokers and 41 healthy non-smokers.
* The smokers were allowed to smoke before MR scanning and then started a 12-week drug-aided smoking cessation treatment with Varenicline.
* The smoking cessation outcome was evaluated based on the 4-week continuous abstinence for the last 4 weeks of drug therapy.
* The study found that quitters demonstrated greater GM volume in the right postcentral gyrus, right putamen and caudate nucleus (dorsal striatum), and left OFC than relapsers and non-smokers.
* The study also found decreased FC between the left dorsomedial thalamus and left cerebellum in relapsers.
* The GM volume in the left OFC was found to be negatively correlated with the cigarettes per day and smoking index in quitters, but not in relapsers.
* The correlation findings did not survive multiple comparison correction.
* The study suggests that brain structural and functional changes may have a considerable promise as predictors of smoking cessation outcomes.

Main Message:
The study suggests that brain structural and functional changes may be useful predictors of smoking cessation outcomes. quitters had larger GM volume in the OFC, dorsal striatum and right postcentral gyrus prior to smoking cessation treatment, and stronger FC between the left thalamus and cerebellum. Understanding these differences may help in selecting the most effective way to improve an individual's probability of successful cessation.

qian W, huang P, Shen Z, Wang C, Yang Y, Zhang M. Brain gray matter volume and functional connectivity are associated with smoking cessation outcomes. Frontiers in human Neuroscience. 2019;13:9. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2019.00361