Grey Matter Changes Associated with Heavy Cannabis Use: A Longitudinal sMRI Study

PLoS One. 2016 May 25;11(5):e0152482. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0152482. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Cannabis is the most frequently used illicit drug worldwide. Cross-sectional neuroimaging studies suggest that chronic cannabis exposure and the development of cannabis use disorders may affect brain morphology. However, cross-sectional studies cannot make a conclusive distinction between cause and consequence and longitudinal neuroimaging studies are lacking. In this prospective study we investigate whether continued cannabis use and higher levels of cannabis exposure in young adults are associated with grey matter reductions. Heavy cannabis users (N = 20, age baseline M = 20.5, SD = 2.1) and non-cannabis using healthy controls (N = 22, age baseline M = 21.6, SD = 2.45) underwent a comprehensive psychological assessment and a T1- structural MRI scan at baseline and 3 years follow-up. Grey matter volumes (orbitofrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, insula, striatum, thalamus, amygdala, hippocampus and cerebellum) were estimated using the software package SPM (VBM-8 module). Continued cannabis use did not have an effect on GM volume change at follow-up. Cross-sectional analyses at baseline and follow-up revealed consistent negative correlations between cannabis related problems and cannabis use (in grams) and regional GM volume of the left hippocampus, amygdala and superior temporal gyrus. These results suggests that small GM volumes in the medial temporal lobe are a risk factor for heavy cannabis use or that the effect of cannabis on GM reductions is limited to adolescence with no further damage of continued use after early adulthood. Long-term prospective studies starting in early adolescence are needed to reach final conclusions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cannabis*
  • Female
  • Gray Matter / diagnostic imaging*
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Marijuana Abuse*
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

This paper is supported through funding received from the Academic Medical Center of the University of Amsterdam and the Netherlands Organization for Scientific research - Health Research and Development, ZonMW grant #31180002 awarded to A.E. Goudriaan and W. van den Brink and grant #31160007 awarded to L. de Haan. Additional funding was obtained from Vici grant #453.008.001 awarded to R.W. Wiers by the Dutch Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) and from the Amsterdam Brain Imaging Center (BIC) for MRI scans.