The relation between cannabis use, dependence severity and white matter microstructure: A diffusion tensor imaging study

Janna Cousijn*, Yara J. Toenders, Laura S. van Velzen, Anne Marije Kaag

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Despite the significant societal and personal burden of cannabis use, the impact of long-term use and Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) on white matter microstructure is still unclear. Previous studies show inconsistent findings, in part due to heterogeneity in methodology, variable severity of cannabis use, and potential confounding effects of other mental health issues and substance use. The goal of this diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) study was to compare whole-brain white matter microstructure between 39 near daily cannabis users and 28 controls closely matched on age, sex, alcohol use, cigarette use and mental health. Within the group of cannabis users, associations between white matter microstructure and recent cannabis use, dependence severity, and age of onset and duration of weekly use were investigated. White matter microstructure did not differ between cannabis users and controls and did not covary with recent cannabis use, dependence severity, or duration of use. Earlier onset of weekly cannabis use was related to lower fractional anisotropy (FA) in various sections of the right inferior longitudinal fasciculus and uncinate fasciculus. These findings suggest that long-term near-daily cannabis use does not necessarily affect white matter microstructure, but vulnerability may be higher during adolescence. These findings underscore the importance of sample composition and warrant further studies that investigate the moderating role of age of onset in the impact of cannabis on the brain.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere13081
Pages (from-to)1-10
Number of pages10
JournalAddiction Biology
Volume27
Issue number1
Early online date17 Aug 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We thank Sabrina Okx, Fabio Melis, Anne Kramer and Scarlett Slagter for their help with data collection. This study was supported by a Replication Study grant from the Department of Psychology of the University of Amsterdam.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors. Addiction Biology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society for the Study of Addiction.

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