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Consequences of Perinatal Cannabis Exposure
Andrew F Scheyer1, Miriam Melis2, Viviana Trezza3
1INMED, INSERM U1249, Marseille, France; Aix-Marseille University, Provence, France; Cannalab, Cannabinoids Neuroscience Research International Associated Laboratory, INSERM-Aix-Marseille University, Provence, France/Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
Trends in Neurosciences
|October 13, 2019
Summary
Perinatal cannabis exposure causes lasting changes in offspring
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Cannabis use during pregnancy is increasing with broader legalization.
- Perinatal cannabis exposure has significant, long-term consequences for offspring development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the immediate and long-term effects of perinatal cannabis exposure on development.
- To highlight lasting changes in synaptic plasticity, epigenetics, social behavior, and executive functions.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of animal models exposed to cannabinoids during the perinatal period.
- Review of epidemiological data on human offspring exposed prenatally.
Main Results:
- Cannabis exposure alters synaptic plasticity and causes epigenetic misregulation in offspring.
- Significant changes in social behavior and executive functions are observed.
- Human epidemiological data supports similar long-term behavioral outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Perinatal cannabis exposure leads to persistent neurodevelopmental and behavioral deficits.
- Further research is needed on accurate exposure modeling and sex/age-dependent outcomes.
