Cannabis use linked to brain changes in young adults at risk of psychosis

Young adults at risk of psychosis show reduced brain connectivity, a deficit that cannabis use appears to worsen, a new study has found. The breakthrough paves the way for psychosis treatments targeting symptoms that current medications miss.

In the first-of-its-kind study, McGill University researchers detected a marked decrease in synaptic density-;the connections between neurons that enable brain communication-;in individuals at risk of psychosis, compared to a healthy control group.

Hope for new treatments

"Current medications largely target hallucinations, but they don't address symptoms that make it difficult to manage social relationships, work, or school," said first author Belen Blasco, a PhD student at McGill's Integrated Program in Neuroscience. "By focusing on synaptic density, we may eventually develop therapies that enhance social function and quality of life for those affected."

While cannabis is a known risk factor for developing psychosis, which can progress to schizophrenia, this is the first time researchers have measured structural changes in the brains of a high-risk population in real time.

The team's next research phase will explore whether these observed brain changes could predict psychosis development, potentially enabling earlier intervention.

The study was conducted at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute and McGill University's Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital. It was supported by the Canadian Institute of Health Research.

Source:

McGill University

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