The effects of amphetamines alone and in combination with alcohol on functional neurocognition: A systematic review. (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Narayan, Andrea J.; Aitken, Blair; Downey, Luke A.; Hayley, Amie C.
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews. Volume 131(2021)
• Page Start: 865
• Page End: 881
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: ATT attention -- BAC Blood Alcohol Concentration -- CANTAB Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery -- CONSORT Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials -- CDR Cognitive Drug Research (CDR) battery -- d-AMP dextroamphetamine -- MA methamphetamine -- MCCB MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery -- MDE 3, 4-methylenedioxyethamphetamine -- MDMA 3, 4- methylenedioxymethamphetamine -- MPH methylphenidate -- RCT Randomised Controlled Trial -- RT reaction time -- WM working memory; Amphetamine -- Alcohol -- Combined -- Neurocognitive -- Driving -- Performance; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Behavior -- Periodicals; Ethology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychophysiologie -- Périodiques; Comportement humain -- Périodiques; Animaux -- Mœurs et comportement -- Périodiques; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Animal behavior; Human behavior; Neurology; Psychophysiology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 573.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.10.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0149-7634

Abstract

Highlights: Amphetamine is often used with alcohol, yet the neurocognitive effects are unclear. We performed a systematic review of acute drug dosing studies in healthy adults. Amphetamine alone produced limited improvement in functional neurocognition. Amphetamine does not overcome alcohol-induced impairment when co-administered. Combined use of amphetamine with alcohol is an increasing concern for road safety. Abstract: Due to their desirable synergistic and/or additive pharmacological effects, amphetamines and alcohol are frequently co-consumed; yet, their combined functional neurocognitive effects remain poorly defined. The PubMed, Scopus, SafetyLit, CINAHL Complete and Medline databases were examined from inception to December 2020. Study selection, data extraction and Cochrane Risk of Bias (RoB2) assessments were conducted according to PRISMA guidelines, and the review was registered on the PROSPERO database (CRD42020189168). A total of 39 full-text articles were included which examined the effects of six amphetamine analogues alone (n = 33) and in combination with alcohol (n = 6) on measures of attention, working memory and reaction time. Amphetamine alone produced limited inverted-U shaped improvement in select behavioural domains, particularly among poor baseline performers. Combined amphetamine and alcohol impaired psychomotor speed and motor control comparable to alcohol alone, and co-consumption with high doses of alcohol (0.08 %BAC) protracted behavioural deficits. Co-consumption of amphetamine with high doses of alcohol impairs response discrimination and psychomotor speed, and their combination is not sufficient to overcome alcohol-induced motor impairment.