The current study investigated the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, within-network resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC), and alcohol use during adolescence using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from the National Consortium on Alcohol and Neurodevelopment in Adolescence study (NCANDA;  = 687). Significant rs-FC differences emerged that linked participant ACEs, PTSD symptoms, and alcohol use problems. Participants with ACEs compared to those without had diminished rs-FC within the default mode, salience, and medial frontoparietal networks ( ≤ 0.005). Further reduction in rs-FC within the default mode and medial frontoparietal networks ( ≤ 0.005) was found when PTSD symptoms were present in addition to ACEs. Findings suggest that PTSD symptoms are associated with lower within network rs-FC beyond exposure to ACEs, and some of these rs-FC changes were associated with worsened alcohol use problems (i.e. withdrawal symptoms). These findings highlight the importance of addressing PTSD symptoms in adolescents with a history of ACEs as it may mitigate problematic changes in brain connectivity and reduce the risk of developing alcohol use problems.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09297049.2025.2451799DOI Listing

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