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Cortical thickness in adolescent marijuana and alcohol users: A three-year prospective study from adolescence to young adulthood.

Joanna Jacobus, Lindsay M Squeglia, Alejandro D Meruelo, Norma Castro, Ty Brumback, Jay N Giedd, Susan F Tapert

Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience December 2015 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2015.04.006 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Prospective longitudinal observational study Peer reviewed
Sample size 68
Population Adolescents with heavy marijuana and concomitant alcohol use (n=30) and controls with limited substance use histories (n=38)
Duration Three independent time points, with 3-year follow-up
Topics Cannabis
Keywords Adolescence Alcohol Brain Cortical thickness Imaging
Key findings Heavy marijuana use during adolescence was associated with thicker cortical estimates across 23 brain regions, particularly in frontal and parietal lobes, compared with controls. More cumulative marijuana use was associated with increased thickness estimates by the 3-year follow-up, suggesting altered neural development and possible interference with neuromaturation.

Abstract

Studies suggest marijuana impacts gray and white matter neural tissue development, however few prospective studies have determined the relationship between cortical thickness and cannabis use spanning adolescence to young adulthood. This study aimed to understand how heavy marijuana use influences cortical thickness trajectories across adolescence. Subjects were adolescents with heavy marijuana use and concomitant alcohol use (MJ+ALC, n=30) and controls (CON, n=38) with limited substance use histories. Participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging and comprehensive substance use assessment at three independent time points. Repeated measures analysis of covariance was used to look at main effects of group, time, and Group × Time interactions on cortical thickness. MJ+ALC showed thicker cortical estimates across the brain (23 regions), particularly in frontal and parietal lobes (ps<.05). More cumulative marijuana use was associated with increased thickness estimates by 3-year follow-up (ps<.05). Heavy marijuana use during adolescence and into young adulthood may be associated with altered neural tissue development and interference with neuromaturation that can have neurobehavioral consequences. Continued follow-up of adolescent marijuana users will help understand ongoing neural changes that are associated with development of problematic use into adulthood, as well as potential for neural recovery with cessation of use.

Comparable studies

Other observational and cohort studies on cannabis, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
High-potency cannabis and the risk of psychosis People with first episode of psychosis and healthy controls from the local population 2009 Case-control study n = 454
Ayahuasca-Assisted Therapy for Addiction: Results from a Preliminary Observational Study in Canada Rural aboriginal population 2013 Observational study
Impaired cognitive performance in drug free users of recreational ecstasy (MDMA) Otherwise healthy young people 2000 Observational
Continued cannabis use and risk of incidence and persistence of psychotic symptoms: 10 year follow-up cohort study Individuals from the general population in Germany aged 14-24 at baseline 2011 Observational cohort n = 1,923
Cannabis-induced psychosis and subsequent schizophrenia-spectrum disorders: follow-up study of 535 incident cases Patients treated for cannabis-induced psychotic symptoms in Denmark between 1994 and... 2005 Observational cohort n = 535

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