White matter deficits in cocaine use disorder: convergent evidence from in vivo diffusion tensor imaging and ex vivo proteomic analysis.

White matter (WM) abnormalities in patients with cocaine use disorder (CUD) have been studied; however, the reported effects on the human brain are heterogenous and most results have been obtained from male participants. In addition, biological data supporting the imaging findings and revealing possible mechanisms underlying the neurotoxic effects of chronic cocaine use (CU) on WM are largely restricted to animal studies. To evaluate the neurotoxic effects of CU in the WM, we performed an in vivo diffusion tensor imaging assessment of male and female cocaine users (n = 75) and healthy controls (HC) (n = 58).