Find overlapping scientists dopamine Activity in cannabis use Disorder and psychosis – ryan

People with cannabis use Disorder show signs of altered dopamine activity in the brain that mirror patterns seen in psychosis, accorting to a new brain pursue published in JAMA PSYCHITRY. USING A specialized form of magnetic resonance imaging, researchers found that individuals who used cannabis heavily over time has increas dopamine-related signals in a midbin region previously associated with psychotic symptoms.

The research aimed to the undertand how chronic cannabis use Might influenza Brain systems that are also implicated in psychotic disorders. Past studies have shown a connection between frequency cannabis use and an incresed risk of psychosis, but the underlying biological mechanisms have remained Unclear. This Study Focus on the dopamine System, A Network of Brain Structures and Chemicals Long Linked to Psychosis, Particularly The Positive Schizophrenia Such As Hallucinations and Delusions.

“I’m Personally Interested in the Neurobiological Basis of Schizophrenia, and there is a well-aestabished link between cannabis use and psychosis; howver, the mechanism of this relationship is unclear. Activity, we were interested in investigating whether share the Same dopamine Pathway, “Said Study Author Jessica Ahrens, a PhD Student in the integrated program in neuroscience at McGill University.

To better understand this Connection, researchers in canada recruited 61 individuals aged 18 to 35, Including People with and Without Cannabis use Disorder. Some Participants were Also Experiencing A First Episode of Schizophrenia, Allowing the Researchers to Explore How Cannabis use mights related to psychosis.

All Participants Completed Clinical Interviews, Cognitive Testing, and Provided Saliva Samples to Meason Thc Levels. Brain imaging was conducted ussing a technique known as neuromelanin-sensitive MRI, which indirectly reflects dopamine Activity in the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area-regions critical for motivation, reward, and the processing of salient stimulus.

Neuromelanin is a byproduct of dopamine metabolism and accumulates in these brain regions over time. The most dopamine a person produces in this part of the brain, the Stronger the neuromelanin signal on the scan. In disorders like schizophrenia, Higher neuromelanin signal haen observed in these Same Areas, suggesting long-term increas in dopamine Activity. By Comparing the MRI Results of People With and With Without Cannabis USORDER, The Researchers Were able to examine whether cannabis is associated with Similar dopamine-relayed changes.

The Study Found That Individuals With Cannabis Use Disorder Had Significately Higher Neuromelanin-Mri Signal in Specific Parts of the Midbrain, Particularly in Regions Previously Linked to the Severity of Psychotic Sympptoms. This pattern was not observed in individuals who did not meet creriteria for cannabis use Disorder, this thing though of saying hasd cannabis in the past.

Notably, The Increat in Signal Was Strongest Among Among Participants with More Severe Cannabis use Disorder, suggesting a dose-relay pattern. The findings were independent of whereather a person had a diagnosis of schizophrenia, Although the effect was numerically stronger among participants with both conditions.

“We found that individuals with cannabis use Disorder exhibited increasing neuromelanin-mri signal in a brain region previously associated with psychosis symptoms,” ahrens told Psypost. “SINCE neuromelanin-mri signal is consider a potential marker of dopamine function, our findings suggest that People with cannabis use derder has elevated dopamine Activity in a brain to psychosis risk. Potential Risks Associated With Harmful Cannabis use – especally THose with a family history of psychosis or other factors that May Increase their vulnerability. ”

Interesting, the researchers did not find any signify interaction between cannabis users and schizophrenia diagnosis, meaning that has Having the Both Conditions Did Amplify the Neuromelanin the EFFECT of cannabis use use alone Over the Course of One Year, The Elevated Neuromelanin Signal Remained Stable in Those With Cannabis USORDER, SUGGESTING THAT The May RefLECT Long-Meding Alterations in Dopamine Function. This is notable because incresed dopamine Activity in this brain region has been consistently linked to psychotic symptoms in other studies.

The researchers also explored whether neuromelanin signal decreed over time with continued cannabis use but no evidens of this in the one -ear follow-up. One Explanation is that any reduction in dopamine Function from long-term cannabis use may have already occurred before the first scan and remained stable. Another positibality is that increasing dopamine Activity is a pre-ex-existing vulnerability that categories to both psychosis and problematic cannabis use, though the study was not knowing to test this idea directly.

An EXXPECTED FINDING WAS THAT INDIVIDUALS WITH CANNABIS DISORDER REPORTED FEWER PERSONAL PROBLEMS RELATED TO THEIR CANNABIS USE, Despite Meeting Clinical Criteria for the Disorder and Showing Biological Effects on the Brain.

“Something that surprised me is as as is as asced about their cannabis users, we did not find a significant difference in self-endorsed problems: ‘have you ever have problems your use of cannabis?’); LESS Frequent Personal Harm Due to Cannabis, ”Ahrens explained. “This Indicates that individuals with a cannabis use Disorder has Lower perception of Harm Despite the Higher Measured Severitity.”

The researchers highlighted several strengths of their approach, Including the USE of Multiple Cannabis-Relayed Measures (Clinical Diagnosis, Thc Levels, and Selfort), A well-Matched Control Group, and Detriled Brain-Imaging Protocols. Howver, The Study Also Had Limits. The Sample Size was relatively small, participlecularly for the follow-up scans. Women were underrepreseented, Limitting the Generalizability of the Results. Additionally, The Study Focus Exclusively on the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area and did not examine other neuromelanin-rich regions like the locus coeruleus, which May Also Play a Role in Psychosis.

Importantly, The Study Design Does Not Allow Conclusions About Cause and Effect. It Remains Unclear Whether Higher Neuromelanin Signals Reflect a Preexisting vulnerability to cannabis use Disorder, a consequens of cannabis exposser, or some combination of bot. Longitudinal studies that begin before cannabis use starts be needed to clarify this.

“More research is Needed to explore the neurobiological changes that Occur before and after the designs of cannabis use Disorder, as well as the effecs of quitting cannabis in those with a history of use,” Ahrens Said. “Moving Forward, Our Group Plans to Examine Another Neuromelanin-Rich Brain Region, Where The Neuromelanin Signal Be Linked to A Different Neurotransmitter. Additionally, We Aim to Employ More Sensitive Mri Techniques to improve undrsraomlanin Dynamics. ”

The Study, “Convergens of Cannabis and Psychosis on the dopamine System”Was Authard by Jessica Ahrens, Sabrina D. Ford, Betsy Schaefer, David Reese, Ali R. Khan, Philip Tibbo, Rachel Rabin, Clifford M. Cassidy, and Lena Paliyappan.