Abnormal white matter microstructure among early adulthood smokers: a tract-based spatial statistics study

AbstractObjectivesCigarette smoking is an important risk factor of central nervous system diseases. However, the white matter (WM) integrity of early adulthood chronic smokers has not been attached enough importance to as it deserves, and the relationship between the chronic smoking effect and the WM is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate whole – brain WM microstructure of early adulthood smokers and explore the structural correlates of behaviorally relevant features of the disorder.MethodsWe compared multiple DTI-derived indices, including fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD) and radial diffusivity (RD), between early adulthood smokers (n = 19) and age-, education- and gender-matched controls (n = 23) using a whole-brain tract-based spatial statistics approach. We also explored the correlations of the mean DTI index values with pack-years and Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence.ResultsThe smokers showed increased FA in left superior longitu...