Brian Pittman

2026

• Exploratory imaging in SWEDD: Insights from dopaminergic PET, synaptic density PET, and volumetric MRI

  Ebrahimian Sadabad F, Volpi T, Tinaz S, Honhar P, Colon L, Mayeli M, Pittman B, Naganawa M, Dias M, Angarita G, Comley R, Carson R, Finnema S, Matuskey D. Exploratory imaging in SWEDD: Insights from dopaminergic PET, synaptic density PET, and volumetric MRI. Parkinsonism & Related Disorders 2026, 152: 108960. PMID: 42691866, DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2026.108960.

  Peer-Reviewed Original Research

• Cortical Thickness in Middle and Older Aged Adults With Bipolar Disorder Across Six International Sites

  Marks R, Sankar A, Colic L, Soares J, Radua J, Vieta E, Mwangi B, Wu M, Vilajosana E, Pomarol‐Clotet E, Canales‐Rodríguez E, Salvador R, Pittman B, Dols A, Sajatovic M, Eyler L, Blumberg H. Cortical Thickness in Middle and Older Aged Adults With Bipolar Disorder Across Six International Sites. Bipolar Disorders 2026, 28: e70166. PMID: 42568249, PMCID: PMC13451785, DOI: 10.1111/bdi.70166.

  Peer-Reviewed Original Research

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• Reversible alterations of brain acetate metabolism associated with alcohol consumption

  Kumaragamage C, Angarita G, de Graaf R, Guidone E, Coppoli A, Behar K, Gulanski B, Pittman B, Weinzimer S, Rothman D, Krystal J, Mason G. Reversible alterations of brain acetate metabolism associated with alcohol consumption. Neuropsychopharmacology 2026, 51: 1758-1766. PMID: 42218273, PMCID: PMC13334440, DOI: 10.1038/s41386-026-02455-6.

  Peer-Reviewed Original Research

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• An opioid-withholding human laboratory paradigm during opioid agonist treatment for opioid use disorder and chronic pain: Phase- and dose-dependent effects of cannabidiol

  P. A. Costa G, Sofuoglu M, Compton P, Ranganathan M, Pittman B, De Aquino J. An opioid-withholding human laboratory paradigm during opioid agonist treatment for opioid use disorder and chronic pain: Phase- and dose-dependent effects of cannabidiol. Neuropsychopharmacology 2026, 1-10. PMID: 42162267, PMCID: PMC13213852, DOI: 10.1038/s41386-026-02443-w.

  Peer-Reviewed Original Research

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• Lower synaptic density in mood circuitry underlies depression in Parkinson’s disease

  Cayir S, Naganawa M, Volpi T, Sadabad F, Dias M, Yang Y, Elliott S, Ansari M, Pittman B, Esterlis I, Nabulsi N, Huang Y, Sanacora G, Comley R, Finnema S, Carson R, Tinaz S, Matuskey D, Holmes S. Lower synaptic density in mood circuitry underlies depression in Parkinson’s disease. Brain Communications 2026, 8: fcag136. PMID: 42109687, PMCID: PMC13152014, DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcag136.

  Peer-Reviewed Original Research

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• Synaptic density imaging in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia: A comparison of 18F‐SynVesT‐1 and 18F‐FDG PET

  Fesharaki‐Zadeh A, Cayir S, Ibrahim W, Yang Y, Gallezot J, Naganawa M, Wu Y, Toyonaga T, Sadabad F, O'Dell R, Pittman B, Nabulsi N, Strittmatter S, Carson R, Huang Y, van Dyck C, Mecca A, Matuskey D. Synaptic density imaging in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia: A comparison of 18F‐SynVesT‐1 and 18F‐FDG PET. Alzheimer's & Dementia 2026, 22: e71283. PMID: 41954197, PMCID: PMC13063251, DOI: 10.1002/alz.71283.

  Peer-Reviewed Original Research

  This study investigates synaptic density imaging in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia, showing that SV2A PET detects more pronounced synaptic loss than glucose hypometabolism using FDG PET, aiding early diagnosis and monitoring.

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• Additional analyses do not implicate opioid signaling in the antidepressant effects of ketamine

  Yoon G, Pittman B, Krystal J. Additional analyses do not implicate opioid signaling in the antidepressant effects of ketamine. The International Journal Of Neuropsychopharmacology 2026, 29: pyag011. PMID: 41818343, PMCID: PMC13064640, DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyag011.

  Peer-Reviewed Original Research

• Naltrexone/bupropion for binge-eating disorder: A human laboratory investigation of mechanisms

  McKee S, Lydecker J, Pittman B, Jastreboff A, DiLeone R, Lavery M, Grilo C. Naltrexone/bupropion for binge-eating disorder: A human laboratory investigation of mechanisms. Drug And Alcohol Dependence Reports 2026, 19: 100428. PMID: 41867954, PMCID: PMC13000475, DOI: 10.1016/j.dadr.2026.100428.

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• Legal blood alcohol concentration limits and alcohol-attributable traffic mortality rates: an analysis across 165 countries

  Peltier M, Mokwuah A, Bin-Mahfouz A, Verplaetse T, Zakiniaeiz Y, Garcia-Rivas V, Banini B, Raval N, Pittman B, McKee S. Legal blood alcohol concentration limits and alcohol-attributable traffic mortality rates: an analysis across 165 countries. EClinicalMedicine 2026, 93: 103794. PMID: 41768275, PMCID: PMC12945517, DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2026.103794.

  Peer-Reviewed Original Research

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• Higher drinking frequency corresponds to lower synaptic density in people with alcohol use disorder

  Zakiniaeiz Y, Raval N, Riordan W, Nabulsi N, Huang Y, Pittman B, Matuskey D, Angarita G, Bonomi R, McKee S, Hillmer A, Cosgrove K. Higher drinking frequency corresponds to lower synaptic density in people with alcohol use disorder. Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2026, 136: e199989. PMID: 41528802, PMCID: PMC13038192, DOI: 10.1172/jci199989.

  Peer-Reviewed Original Research

  This study investigates how chronic alcohol use reduces brain synaptic density in key regions, linking greater drinking frequency to more severe synaptic deficits and cognitive impairments.

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