Neurobiological Aspect of Cognitive Impairment in Substance Addiction

Abstract

Background: Despite its negative consequences, substance addiction is a persistent, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug-seeking behaviour. Substance use and addiction have been rapidly increasing public health problems all over the world. According to empirical evidence, substances directly affect individuals' memory, attention, decision-making, and executive functions, impacting various regions of the brain. Neural circuitry and neurotransmitter changes associated with substance addiction are leading causes of cognitive impairment. Objective: To reveal the specific neural mechanisms associated with cognitive deficits in the human brain Methods: Scientific evidence was gathered by referring to more than 20 articles that are included in Google Scholar, PubMed, and ELSEVIER databases. This study was mainly conducted by referring to scientific articles that have been published within 10 years. Results: Results revealed that the ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens internalize the reward stimuli regulating the dopaminergic system that can be induced by psychoactive substances. Then, long-term substance use associated with serotonergic and GABA activity leads to changes in the executive functions in the prefrontal cortex and the inhibitory control. Conclusion: Considering the empirical evidence, prolonged usage of substances is capable of deteriorating individuals’ cognitive functions drastically. Hence, a multidisciplinary approach including neurology, genetics, public health, and psychology is a crucial requirement to manage these substance-related cognitive impairments. Early identification can be used to mitigate the severity of the impairments.