Cannabis use linked to thinning cerebral cortex in adolescents

Tomas Paus, professor of psychiatry and neuroscience, Université de MontréalIf we take the analogy of the brain as a computer, the neurons would be the central processor, receiving all information via the synapses through the dendritic network. So a decrease in the data input to the central processor by dendrites makes it harder for the brain to learn new things, interact with people, cope with new situations, etc. In other words, it makes the brain more vulnerable to everything that can happen in a young person's life."

A multi-level approach to better understand the effect on humans

This project is notable for the complementary, multi-level nature of the methods used. "By analyzing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the brains of a cohort of teenagers, we had already shown that young people who used cannabis before the age of 16 had a thinner cerebral cortex," explains Tomas Paus. "However, this research method doesn't allow us to draw any conclusions about causality, or to really understand THC's effect on the brain cells." 

With cannabis use on the rise among North American youth, and commercial cannabis products containing increasing concentrations of THC, it's imperative that we improve our understanding of how this substance affects brain maturation and cognition. This successful collaborative study, involving cutting-edge techniques in cellular and molecular biology, imaging and bioinformatics analysis, is a step in the right direction for the development of effective public health measures.

Source:

University of Montreal

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