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Boer OD, El Marroun H, Muetzel RL. Adolescent substance use initiation and long-term neurobiological outcomes: insights, challenges and opportunities. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02471-2. [PMID: 38409597 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02471-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
The increased frequency of risk taking behavior combined with marked neuromaturation has positioned adolescence as a focal point of research into the neural causes and consequences of substance use. However, little work has provided a summary of the links between adolescent initiated substance use and longer-term brain outcomes. Here we review studies exploring the long-term effects of adolescent-initiated substance use with structural and microstructural neuroimaging. A quarter of all studies reviewed conducted repeated neuroimaging assessments. Long-term alcohol use, as well as tobacco use were consistently associated with smaller frontal cortices and altered white matter microstructure. This association was mostly observed in the ACC, insula and subcortical regions in alcohol users, and for the OFC in tobacco users. Long-term cannabis use was mostly related to altered frontal cortices and hippocampal volumes. Interestingly, cannabis users scanned more years after use initiation tended to show smaller measures of these regions, whereas those with fewer years since initiation showed larger measures. Long-term stimulant use tended to show a similar trend as cannabis in terms of years since initiation in measures of the putamen, insula and frontal cortex. Long-term opioid use was mostly associated with smaller subcortical and insular volumes. Of note, null findings were reported in all substance use categories, most often in cannabis use studies. In the context of the large variety in study designs, substance use assessment, methods, and sample characteristics, we provide recommendations on how to interpret these findings, and considerations for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga D Boer
- Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies - Erasmus School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center - Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hanan El Marroun
- Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies - Erasmus School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center - Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ryan L Muetzel
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center - Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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Evanski JM, Zundel CG, Baglot SL, Desai S, Gowatch LC, Ely SL, Sadik N, Lundahl LH, Hill MN, Marusak HA. The First "Hit" to the Endocannabinoid System? Associations Between Prenatal Cannabis Exposure and Frontolimbic White Matter Pathways in Children. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 4:11-18. [PMID: 38021250 PMCID: PMC10654001 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2023.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cannabis is the most used federally illicit substance among pregnant people in the United States. However, emerging preclinical data show that a significant portion of cannabis constituents, such as Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and its bioactive metabolites, readily cross the placenta and accumulate in the fetal brain, disrupting neurodevelopment. Recent research using the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study cohort has linked prenatal cannabis exposure (PCE) to greater neurobehavioral problems and lower total gray and white matter volume in children. Here, we examined the impact of PCE on frontolimbic white matter pathways that are critical for cognitive- and emotion-related functioning, show a high density of cannabinoid receptors, and are susceptible to cannabis exposure during other periods of rapid neurodevelopment (e.g., adolescence). Methods This study included 11,530 children (mean ± SD age = 118.99 ± 7.49 months; 47% female) from the ABCD Study cohort. Linear mixed-effects models were used to examine the effects of caregiver-reported PCE on fractional anisotropy of 10 frontolimbic pathways (5 per hemisphere). Results PCE was associated with lower fractional anisotropy of the right (β = -0.005, p < .001) and left (β = -0.003, p = .007) fornix, and these results remained significant after adjusting for a variety of covariates, multiple comparisons, fractional anisotropy of all fibers, and using a quality-control cohort only. Conclusions In sum, we demonstrated small, yet reliable, effects of PCE on white matter integrity during childhood, particularly in the fornix, which plays a crucial role in emotion- and memory-related processes. Future studies are needed to understand the impacts of small changes in brain structure or function on neurodevelopment and risk of neurobehavioral problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia M. Evanski
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Clara G. Zundel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Samantha L. Baglot
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Shreya Desai
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Leah C. Gowatch
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Samantha L. Ely
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Nareen Sadik
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Leslie H. Lundahl
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Matthew N. Hill
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Hilary A. Marusak
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
- Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute for Child and Family Development, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
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Skala K, Trabi T, Fuchs M, Gössler R, Haas-Stockmair CW, Kriechbaumer N, Leitner M, Ortner N, Reiter M, Müller C, Wladika W. [Cannabis use in adolescents : Narrative Review and Position paper of the "Addiction Disorders in Adolescents" task force of the Austrian Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy (ÖGKJP)]. NEUROPSYCHIATRIE : KLINIK, DIAGNOSTIK, THERAPIE UND REHABILITATION : ORGAN DER GESELLSCHAFT OSTERREICHISCHER NERVENARZTE UND PSYCHIATER 2023; 37:175-195. [PMID: 35900691 DOI: 10.1007/s40211-022-00424-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cannabis is the illegal drug most frequently used by Minors in Austria. Due to the gradual decriminalization and legalization that has taken place in many European countries in recent years, the ÖGKJP would like to take a balanced and scientifically based stand on the complex issue of cannabis use and abuse among young people. METHODS The authors searched the medline for current studies using searches tailored to each specific subtopic. Furthermore, recognized compendiums were quoted. RESULTS While occasional recreational use of cannabis in adults with completed brain maturation and no risk profile for mental disorders is likely to be relatively harmless, early initiation of use with regular use and the increasingly available, highly potent cannabis varieties can lead to explicit and sometimes irreversible neurocognitive brain dysfunction. CONCLUSION Legalisation of cannabis consumption for minors needs to be objected to due to the risks of the expected damage in the area of brain development. At the same time, however, it is important to establish sensible legal regulations in order to be able to adequately counteract the fact that over 30% of all European young people occasionally consume cannabis. We are also clearly recommending to not criminalize cannabis users and provide necessary support to vulnerable and addicted cannabis users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Skala
- Univ. Klinik für Kinder und Jugendpsychiatrie, Medizinische Universität Wien, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Wien, Österreich.
| | - Thomas Trabi
- Abteilung für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, LKH Graz II, Graz, Österreich
| | - Martin Fuchs
- Univ. Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, Medizinische Universität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Österreich
| | - Ralf Gössler
- Abteilung für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, Klinik Floridsdorf, Floridsdorf, Österreich
| | | | | | - Monika Leitner
- Praxis für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, Graz, Österreich
| | - Nora Ortner
- Univ. Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, Medizinische Universität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Österreich
| | - Melanie Reiter
- Univ. Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, Medizinische Universität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Österreich
| | - Christian Müller
- Ambulatorium für Kinder- u. Jugendpsychiatrie, PSD Einsenstadt, Einsenstadt, Österreich
| | - Wolfgang Wladika
- Abteilung für Neurologie und Psychiatrie des Kindes- und Jugendalters, Klinikum Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt, Österreich
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Robinson EA, Gleeson J, Arun AH, Clemente A, Gaillard A, Rossetti MG, Brambilla P, Bellani M, Crisanti C, Curran HV, Lorenzetti V. Measuring white matter microstructure in 1,457 cannabis users and 1,441 controls: A systematic review of diffusion-weighted MRI studies. FRONTIERS IN NEUROIMAGING 2023; 2:1129587. [PMID: 37554654 PMCID: PMC10406316 DOI: 10.3389/fnimg.2023.1129587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cannabis is the most widely used regulated substance by youth and adults. Cannabis use has been associated with psychosocial problems, which have been partly ascribed to neurobiological changes. Emerging evidence to date from diffusion-MRI studies shows that cannabis users compared to controls show poorer integrity of white matter fibre tracts, which structurally connect distinct brain regions to facilitate neural communication. However, the most recent evidence from diffusion-MRI studies thus far has yet to be integrated. Therefore, it is unclear if white matter differences in cannabis users are evident consistently in selected locations, in specific diffusion-MRI metrics, and whether these differences in metrics are associated with cannabis exposure levels. METHODS We systematically reviewed the results from diffusion-MRI imaging studies that compared white matter differences between cannabis users and controls. We also examined the associations between cannabis exposure and other behavioral variables due to changes in white matter. Our review was pre-registered in PROSPERO (ID: 258250; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/). RESULTS We identified 30 diffusion-MRI studies including 1,457 cannabis users and 1,441 controls aged 16-to-45 years. All but 6 studies reported group differences in white matter integrity. The most consistent differences between cannabis users and controls were lower fractional anisotropy within the arcuate/superior longitudinal fasciculus (7 studies), and lower fractional anisotropy of the corpus callosum (6 studies) as well as higher mean diffusivity and trace (4 studies). Differences in fractional anisotropy were associated with cannabis use onset (4 studies), especially in the corpus callosum (3 studies). DISCUSSION The mechanisms underscoring white matter differences are unclear, and they may include effects of cannabis use onset during youth, neurotoxic effects or neuro adaptations from regular exposure to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which exerts its effects by binding to brain receptors, or a neurobiological vulnerability predating the onset of cannabis use. Future multimodal neuroimaging studies, including recently developed advanced diffusion-MRI metrics, can be used to track cannabis users over time and to define with precision when and which region of the brain the white matter changes commence in youth cannabis users, and whether cessation of use recovers white matter differences. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier: 258250.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Anne Robinson
- Neuroscience of Addiction and Mental Health Program, Healthy Brain and Mind Research Centre, School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - John Gleeson
- Digital Innovation in Mental Health and Well-Being Program, Healthy Brain and Mind Research Centre, School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Arush Honnedevasthana Arun
- Neuroscience of Addiction and Mental Health Program, Healthy Brain and Mind Research Centre, School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Adam Clemente
- Neuroscience of Addiction and Mental Health Program, Healthy Brain and Mind Research Centre, School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Alexandra Gaillard
- Neuroscience of Addiction and Mental Health Program, Healthy Brain and Mind Research Centre, School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Centre for Mental Health and Brain Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Maria Gloria Rossetti
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Brambilla
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Marcella Bellani
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Camilla Crisanti
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - H. Valerie Curran
- Neuroscience of Addiction and Mental Health Program, Healthy Brain and Mind Research Centre, School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Valentina Lorenzetti
- Neuroscience of Addiction and Mental Health Program, Healthy Brain and Mind Research Centre, School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Murray CJ, Vecchiarelli HA, Tremblay MÈ. Enhancing axonal myelination in seniors: A review exploring the potential impact cannabis has on myelination in the aged brain. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1119552. [PMID: 37032821 PMCID: PMC10073480 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1119552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Consumption of cannabis is on the rise as public opinion trends toward acceptance and its consequent legalization. Specifically, the senior population is one of the demographics increasing their use of cannabis the fastest, but research aimed at understanding cannabis' impact on the aged brain is still scarce. Aging is characterized by many brain changes that slowly alter cognitive ability. One process that is greatly impacted during aging is axonal myelination. The slow degradation and loss of myelin (i.e., demyelination) in the brain with age has been shown to associate with cognitive decline and, furthermore, is a common characteristic of numerous neurological diseases experienced in aging. It is currently not known what causes this age-dependent degradation, but it is likely due to numerous confounding factors (i.e., heightened inflammation, reduced blood flow, cellular senescence) that impact the many cells responsible for maintaining overall homeostasis and myelin integrity. Importantly, animal studies using non-human primates and rodents have also revealed demyelination with age, providing a reliable model for researchers to try and understand the cellular mechanisms at play. In rodents, cannabis was recently shown to modulate the myelination process. Furthermore, studies looking at the direct modulatory impact cannabis has on microglia, astrocytes and oligodendrocyte lineage cells hint at potential mechanisms to prevent some of the more damaging activities performed by these cells that contribute to demyelination in aging. However, research focusing on how cannabis impacts myelination in the aged brain is lacking. Therefore, this review will explore the evidence thus far accumulated to show how cannabis impacts myelination and will extrapolate what this knowledge may mean for the aged brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin J. Murray
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Colin J. Murray,
| | | | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Départment de Médicine Moléculaire, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Axe Neurosciences, Center de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Neurology and Neurosurgery Department, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC), University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Institute for Aging and Lifelong Health, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Marie-Ève Tremblay,
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Shah R, Ghosh A, Avasthi A, Ahuja CK, Khandelwal N, Nehra R. White Matter Microstructure and Gray Matter Volume in Cannabis-Induced Psychosis and Schizophrenia With Cannabis Use. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 2022; 34:406-413. [PMID: 35872614 DOI: 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.21070172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study explored the differences in white matter (WM) microstructural integrity and gray matter (GM) volume between cannabis-induced psychosis (CIP) and schizophrenia with cannabis use (SZC). METHODS This cross-sectional study with convenience sampling involved three groups of 20 participants each (CIP, SZC, and a control group without substance use), matched on age, handedness, and education. CIP and SZC were diagnosed with the Psychiatric Research Interview for Substance and Mental Disorders. Diffusion tensor and kurtosis imaging were done, and fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity, and mean kurtosis were estimated. GM volume was measured with voxel-based morphometry. RESULTS Group comparisons revealed comparable age at initiation and duration and frequency of cannabis use between participants in the SZC and CIP groups. Participants with SZC had lower FA than controls in the anterior and retrolenticular internal capsule limbs, cingulate gyrus hippocampal formation, fornix, and superior fronto-occipital fasciculus (all p<0.05). Participants with CIP had lower FA than controls in the left fornix and right superior fronto-occipital fasciculus but higher FA than those with SZC in the left corticospinal tract (all p<0.05). On morphometry, participants with CIP had greater cerebellar GM volume than those with SZC and greater inferior frontal gyrus volumes than controls (all p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Widespread WM microstructural abnormalities were observed in participants with SZC, and fewer but significant WM disruptions were observed in those with CIP. Better WM integrity in some WM fiber tracts and greater GM volumes in crucial brain areas among those with CIP may have prevented the transition to schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raghav Shah
- Department of Psychiatry (Shah, Ghosh, Avasthi, Nehra) and Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging (Ahuja, Khandelwal), Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
| | - Abhishek Ghosh
- Department of Psychiatry (Shah, Ghosh, Avasthi, Nehra) and Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging (Ahuja, Khandelwal), Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
| | - Ajit Avasthi
- Department of Psychiatry (Shah, Ghosh, Avasthi, Nehra) and Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging (Ahuja, Khandelwal), Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
| | - Chirag K Ahuja
- Department of Psychiatry (Shah, Ghosh, Avasthi, Nehra) and Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging (Ahuja, Khandelwal), Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
| | - Niranjan Khandelwal
- Department of Psychiatry (Shah, Ghosh, Avasthi, Nehra) and Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging (Ahuja, Khandelwal), Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
| | - Ritu Nehra
- Department of Psychiatry (Shah, Ghosh, Avasthi, Nehra) and Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging (Ahuja, Khandelwal), Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
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