AUTHOR=Clare Kevin , Park Kicheon , Pan Yingtian , Lejuez Carl W. , Volkow Nora D. , Du Congwu 

TITLE=Neurovascular effects of cocaine: relevance to addiction

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1357422

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2024.1357422

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<p>Cocaine is a highly addictive drug, and its use is associated with adverse medical consequences such as cerebrovascular accidents that result in debilitating neurological complications. Indeed, brain imaging studies have reported severe reductions in cerebral blood flow (CBF) in cocaine misusers when compared to the brains of healthy non-drug using controls. Such CBF deficits are likely to disrupt neuro-vascular interaction and contribute to changes in brain function. This review aims to provide an overview of cocaine-induced CBF changes and its implication to brain function and to cocaine addiction, including its effects on tissue metabolism and neuronal activity. Finally, we discuss implications for future research, including targeted pharmacological interventions and neuromodulation to limit cocaine use and mitigate the negative impacts.</p>