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Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study

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Published on: August 18, 2020

Abnormal white matter integrity in synthetic cannabinoid users.

Nabi Zorlu¹, Maria Angelique Di Biase², Çiğdem Çolak Kalaycı¹

¹Department of Psychiatry, Katip Celebi University, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.

European Neuropsychopharmacology : the Journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology

|September 13, 2016

Summary

Synthetic cannabinoid use significantly alters brain structure in young adults, causing white matter abnormalities. This may lead to cognitive deficits and increased psychosis risk.

Keywords:

DTI Synthetic cannabinoids White matter

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Toxicology
Radiology

Background:

Synthetic cannabinoids are increasingly prevalent, particularly among adolescents and young adults.
The impact of synthetic cannabinoid use on human brain structure remains largely unexamined.
Understanding these effects is critical due to rising usage rates.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the structural brain changes associated with long-term synthetic cannabinoid consumption.
To assess potential correlations between synthetic cannabinoid use and white matter integrity.

Main Methods:

Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) was employed to examine brain structure.
The study included 22 long-term synthetic cannabinoid users and 18 healthy controls.
Analysis focused on fractional anisotropy (FA) to measure white matter integrity.

Main Results:

Significantly reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) was observed in synthetic cannabinoid users compared to controls.
Affected white matter regions included the left temporal lobe, subcortical structures, and brainstem.
Key white matter tracts affected were the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, inferior longitudinal fasciculus, fornix, cingulum-hippocampus, and corticospinal tracts.

Conclusions:

Long-term synthetic cannabinoid use is linked to white matter abnormalities in adolescents and young adults.
Compromised brain connectivity in users may contribute to cognitive impairment.
These abnormalities could increase vulnerability to psychosis.