Cocaine and Brain Health
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating the long-term effects of cocaine on brain and behaviour, including the imbalance in steroidal hormones and its implications for decision-making
IRAS ID
339144
Contact name
Karen Ersche
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and University of Cambridge
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 4 months, 31 days
Research summary
The UK has one of the highest levels of powdered cocaine use and the highest of crack-cocaine use in Europe. Unlike for heroin or alcohol, there are no approved pharmacological treatments for cocaine, and psychological interventions have been less successful in helping patients achieving abstinence or remaining abstinent after treatment discharge. One of the reasons for the lack of treatment are the powerful effects of cocaine on the availability of the brain chemical dopamine. Although cocaine increases dopamine levels shortly after use, regular cocaine-induced boosts lead to a decrease in dopamine availability over time and disrupt hormone levels. These changes are thought to make it difficult for patients with cocaine addiction to adjust their behaviour to changing circumstances.
As well as people who regularly use cocaine, people with certain gene variants can also have low concentrations of dopamine in the brain, but unlike patients with cocaine addiction, they have no problems in regulating their behaviour. Understanding how they compensate for their low levels of dopamine and how this affects their hormone levels may help us develop new treatments for people with cocaine addiction.
In our study, we compare people with different levels of brain dopamine and people who use cocaine regularly. The study has two sessions. In both sessions, we ask participants to provide a urine sample on arrival, play some computerised games and puzzles, and complete some questionnaires. In the second session, we ask participants to undergo a brain scan and to provide two blood and saliva samples: one on arrival before participants have breakfast and another one before lunch. The blood/saliva samples will be analysed for genetic and hormone levels. For both sessions, participants receive a total of £150 and a picture of their brain to take home. Travel expenses will be reimbursed separately.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/EE/0115
Date of REC Opinion
20 Jun 2024
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion