title: Long-term effects of cannabis on brain structure.
abstract: The dose-dependent toxicity of the main psychoactive component of cannabis in brain regions rich in cannabinoid CB1 receptors is well known in animal studies. However, research in humans does not show common findings across studies regarding the brain regions that are affected after long-term exposure to cannabis. In the present study, we investigate (using Voxel-based Morphometry) gray matter changes in a group of regular cannabis smokers in comparison with a group of occasional smokers matched by the years of cannabis use. We provide evidence that regular cannabis use is associated with gray matter volume reduction in the medial temporal cortex, temporal pole, parahippocampal gyrus, insula, and orbitofrontal cortex; these regions are rich in cannabinoid CB1 receptors and functionally associated with motivational, emotional, and affective processing. Furthermore, these changes correlate with the frequency of cannabis use in the 3 months before inclusion in the study. The age of onset of drug use also influences the magnitude of these changes. Significant gray matter volume reduction could result either from heavy consumption unrelated to the age of onset or instead from recreational cannabis use initiated at an adolescent age. In contrast, the larger gray matter volume detected in the cerebellum of regular smokers without any correlation with the monthly consumption of cannabis may be related to developmental (ontogenic) processes that occur in adolescence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Battistella
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Radiology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland [2] CIBM (Centre d'Imagerie Biomédicale), Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV) unit, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fornari
authors.affiliation: Neurology Units, Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Annoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois CHUV, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Haithem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chtioui
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois CHUV, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dao
authors.affiliation: CURML (University Center of Legal Medicine), UTCF (Forensic Toxicology and Chemistry Unit), Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fabritius
authors.affiliation: CURML (University Center of Legal Medicine), UMPT (Unit of Psychology and Traffic Medicine), Lausanne and Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Favrat
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, SUPAA (Service Universitaire de Psychiatrie de l'Age Avancé), CHUV, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jean-Frédéric
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Mall
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maeder
authors.affiliation: CURML (University Center of Legal Medicine), UTCF (Forensic Toxicology and Chemistry Unit), Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giroud
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology*; D002188:Cannabis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D066128:Gray Matter / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000473:pathology*; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult