{"id":117842,"date":"2024-10-24T14:01:47","date_gmt":"2024-10-24T07:01:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=117842"},"modified":"2024-10-24T14:01:47","modified_gmt":"2024-10-24T07:01:47","slug":"cannabis-use-linked-to-thinner-cortex-in-adolescents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=117842","title":{"rendered":"Cannabis Use Linked to Thinner Cortex in Adolescents"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Summary: <\/strong>Cannabis use in adolescents may lead to thinning of the cerebral cortex, a key brain region for cognitive function. Researchers found that THC, the active ingredient in cannabis, causes the shrinking of dendrites, which are crucial for neuron communication.<\/p>\n<p> This atrophy may affect the brain\u2019s ability to learn, cope, and interact socially, increasing vulnerability during a critical period of brain development. The findings emphasize the need for further understanding of cannabis\u2019s effects on adolescent brain maturation.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Key Facts<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>THC in cannabis causes thinning of the cerebral cortex in adolescents.<\/li>\n<li>Dendrites, essential for neuron communication, shrink due to cannabis use.<\/li>\n<li>This thinning may impair learning, social interaction, and coping abilities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong>University of Montreal<\/p>\n<p><strong>Cannabis use may lead to thinning of the cerebral cortex in adolescents according to a recent study led by\u00a0Graciela\u202fPineyro\u00a0and\u00a0Tomas\u202fPaus,, researchers at CHU Sainte-Justine and professors at the Universit\u00e9 de Montr\u00e9al Faculty of Medicine.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A collaborative effort between two research laboratories with complementary approaches, the study demonstrates that THC \u2013 or tetrahydrocannabinol, an active substance in cannabis \u2013 causes shrinkage of the dendritic arborization, neurons\u2019 \u201cnetwork of antennae\u201d whose role is critical for communication between neurons.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><picture fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-105682\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/files\/2024\/10\/cud-neurodevelopment-neurosceince.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/files\/2024\/10\/cud-neurodevelopment-neurosceince-300x200.jpg.webp 300w, https:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/files\/2024\/10\/cud-neurodevelopment-neurosceince-770x513.jpg.webp 770w, https:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/files\/2024\/10\/cud-neurodevelopment-neurosceince-1155x770.jpg.webp 1155w, https:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/files\/2024\/10\/cud-neurodevelopment-neurosceince-370x247.jpg.webp 370w, https:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/files\/2024\/10\/cud-neurodevelopment-neurosceince-293x195.jpg.webp 293w, https:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/files\/2024\/10\/cud-neurodevelopment-neurosceince-150x100.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"\/><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/files\/2024\/10\/cud-neurodevelopment-neurosceince.jpg\" alt=\"This shows a brain.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/files\/2024\/10\/cud-neurodevelopment-neurosceince.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/files\/2024\/10\/cud-neurodevelopment-neurosceince-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/files\/2024\/10\/cud-neurodevelopment-neurosceince-770x513.jpg 770w, https:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/files\/2024\/10\/cud-neurodevelopment-neurosceince-1155x770.jpg 1155w, https:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/files\/2024\/10\/cud-neurodevelopment-neurosceince-370x247.jpg 370w, https:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/files\/2024\/10\/cud-neurodevelopment-neurosceince-293x195.jpg 293w, https:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/files\/2024\/10\/cud-neurodevelopment-neurosceince-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"\/> <\/picture><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">By combining their distinct research methods, the two teams were thus able to determine with a high degree of certainty that the genes targeted by THC in the mouse model were also associated to the cortical thinning observed in adolescents. Credit: Neuroscience News<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>This results in the atrophy of certain regions of the cerebral cortex \u2013 bad news at an age when the brain is maturing.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf 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,\u201d explains Tomas\u202fPaus, who is also a professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at Universit\u00e9 de Montr\u00e9al.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo 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\u2019s life.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A multi-level approach to better understand the effect on humans<\/h2>\n<p>This project is notable for the complementary, multi-level nature of the methods used.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBy 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,\u201d explains Tomas\u202fPaus.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHowever, this research method doesn\u2019t allow us to draw any conclusions about causality, or to really understand THC\u2019s effect on the brain cells.\u201d\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Given the limitations of MRI, the introduction of the mouse model by Graciela\u202fPineyro\u2019s team was key.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe model made it possible to demonstrate that THC modifies the expression of certain genes affecting the structure and function of synapses and dendrites,\u201d explains Graciela\u202fPineyro, who is also a professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology at Universit\u00e9 de Montr\u00e9al.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe result is atrophy of the dendritic arborescence that could contribute to the thinning observed in certain regions of the cortex.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Interestingly, these genes were also found in humans, particularly in the thinner cortical regions of the cohort adolescents who experimented with cannabis.<\/p>\n<p>By combining their distinct research methods, the two teams were thus able to determine with a high degree of certainty that the genes targeted by THC in the mouse model were also associated to the cortical thinning observed in adolescents.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>With cannabis use on the rise among North American youth, and commercial cannabis products containing increasing concentrations of THC, it\u2019s imperative that we improve our understanding of how this substance affects brain maturation and cognition.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About this CUD and neurodevelopment research news<\/h2>\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ffffe8\"><strong>Author: <\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#dab0f4b9b5a8bebfbbaff7bdbba0bbb3b6b6bf9aafb7b5b4aea8bfbbb6f4b9bb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Julie Gazaille<\/a><br \/><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/umontreal.ca\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">University of Montreal<\/a><br \/><strong>Contact: <\/strong>Julie Gazaille \u2013 University of Montreal<br \/><strong>Image: <\/strong>The image is credited to Neuroscience News<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ffffe8\"><strong>Original Research: <\/strong>Closed access.<br \/>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.jneurosci.org\/content\/44\/41\/e2256232024\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cells and Molecules Underpinning Cannabis-Related Variations in Cortical Thickness during Adolescence<\/a>\u201d by Graciela\u202fPineyro et al. <em>Journal of Neuroscience<\/em><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-pale-cyan-blue-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-background\"\/>\n<p><strong>Abstract<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Cells and Molecules Underpinning Cannabis-Related Variations in Cortical Thickness during Adolescence<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>During adolescence, cannabis experimentation is common, and its association with interindividual variations in brain maturation well studied. Cellular and molecular underpinnings of these system-level relationships are, however, unclear. We thus conducted a three-step study.<\/p>\n<p> First, we exposed adolescent male mice to \u0394-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or a synthetic cannabinoid WIN 55,212-2 (WIN) and assessed differentially expressed genes (DEGs), spine numbers, and dendritic complexity in their frontal cortex. Second, in human (male) adolescents, we examined group differences in cortical thickness in 34 brain regions, using magnetic resonance imaging, between those who experimented with cannabis before age 16 (<em>n<\/em>\u2009=\u2009140) and those who did not (<em>n<\/em>\u2009=\u2009327).<\/p>\n<p>Finally, we correlated spatially these group differences with gene expression of human homologs of mouse-identified DEGs. The spatial expression of 13 THC-related human homologs of DEGs correlated with cannabis-related variations in cortical thickness, and virtual histology revealed coexpression patterns of these 13 genes with cell-specific markers of astrocytes, microglia, and a type of pyramidal cells enriched in dendrite-regulating genes.<\/p>\n<p>Similarly, the spatial expression of 18 WIN-related human homologs of DEGs correlated with group differences in cortical thickness and showed coexpression patterns with the same three cell types.<\/p>\n<p>Gene ontology analysis indicated that 37 THC-related human homologs are enriched in neuron projection development, while 33 WIN-related homologs are enriched in processes associated with learning and memory.<\/p>\n<p>In mice, we observed spine loss and lower dendritic complexity in pyramidal cells of THC-exposed animals (vs controls). Experimentation with cannabis during adolescence may influence cortical thickness by impacting glutamatergic synapses and dendritic arborization.<\/p>\n<p> <!-- Form created by Optin Forms plugin by WPKube: create beautiful optin forms with ease! --> <!-- https:\/\/wpkube.com\/ --><!--optinforms-form5-container--> <!-- \/ Optin Forms --> <\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1660802\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/neurosciencenews.com\/cannabis-cortex-neurodevelopment-27928\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summary: Cannabis use in adolescents may lead to thinning of the cerebral cortex, a key brain region for cognitive function. 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