Does earlier cannabis use change brain structure networks in people with first psychosis?
In 102 cannabis users with recent-onset psychosis, earlier age of first cannabis use was associated with more severe positive symptoms and altered gray matter volume in cerebellar brain networks previously linked to schizophrenia.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Earlier cannabis initiation was linked to greater cerebellar gray matter volume in a network previously identified as altered in schizophrenia, independent of confounders. This cerebellar network was also associated with lower volume in an insula-temporal-frontal network implicated in schizophrenia. Earlier initiation correlated with more severe positive symptoms.
Key Numbers
102 patients with recent-onset psychosis; multicentric data from PRONIA and CIP studies; cerebellar network gray matter volume associated with early cannabis use; correlation with positive symptom severity
How They Did This
Cross-sectional analysis of 102 clinically relevant cannabis users with recent-onset psychosis from the multicentric PRONIA and CIP studies. Source-based morphometry analysis with spatial constraints applied to structural brain networks previously identified as altered in schizophrenia.
Why This Research Matters
This study connects the timing of cannabis use to specific structural brain network changes that are also seen in schizophrenia, supporting the hypothesis that early cannabis use may disrupt developmental trajectories in a way that increases psychosis risk.
The Bigger Picture
The cerebellum is increasingly recognized as important for cognition and psychosis, not just motor function. Finding that early cannabis use specifically affects cerebellar networks implicated in schizophrenia adds a new dimension to understanding the cannabis-psychosis relationship.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design cannot determine if brain changes preceded or followed cannabis use. All participants had psychosis, so findings may not generalize to cannabis users without psychosis. Self-reported age of initiation.
Questions This Raises
- ?Do similar cerebellar changes appear in early cannabis users who never develop psychosis?
- ?Is there a specific age window during which cannabis use is most likely to affect these brain networks?
- ?Are these structural changes reversible with abstinence?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 102 patients from 2 multicentric studies
- Evidence Grade:
- Multicentric sample with sophisticated neuroimaging analysis, but cross-sectional design and all participants had psychosis.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2021; longitudinal studies are needed to confirm developmental causation.
- Original Title:
- Association between age of cannabis initiation and gray matter covariance networks in recent onset psychosis.
- Published In:
- Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, 46(8), 1484-1493 (2021)
- Authors:
- Penzel, Nora(2), Antonucci, Linda A(2), Betz, Linda T(2), Sanfelici, Rachele, Weiske, Johanna, Pogarell, Oliver, Cumming, Paul, Quednow, Boris B, Howes, Oliver, Falkai, Peter, Upthegrove, Rachel, Bertolino, Alessandro, Borgwardt, Stefan, Brambilla, Paolo, Lencer, Rebekka, Meisenzahl, Eva, Rosen, Marlene, Haidl, Theresa, Kambeitz-Ilankovic, Lana, Ruhrmann, Stephan, Salokangas, Raimo R K, Pantelis, Christos, Wood, Stephen J, Koutsouleris, Nikolaos, Kambeitz, Joseph
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03425
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does starting cannabis younger change the brain differently?
In this study of psychosis patients, earlier cannabis initiation was associated with specific changes in cerebellar brain networks that are also altered in schizophrenia, even after accounting for other factors.
Why does the cerebellum matter for psychosis?
The cerebellum is increasingly recognized as playing roles in cognition and emotion, not just movement. Changes in cerebellar networks have been linked to schizophrenia, and this study suggests early cannabis use may affect these specific networks.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03425APA
Penzel, Nora; Antonucci, Linda A; Betz, Linda T; Sanfelici, Rachele; Weiske, Johanna; Pogarell, Oliver; Cumming, Paul; Quednow, Boris B; Howes, Oliver; Falkai, Peter; Upthegrove, Rachel; Bertolino, Alessandro; Borgwardt, Stefan; Brambilla, Paolo; Lencer, Rebekka; Meisenzahl, Eva; Rosen, Marlene; Haidl, Theresa; Kambeitz-Ilankovic, Lana; Ruhrmann, Stephan; Salokangas, Raimo R K; Pantelis, Christos; Wood, Stephen J; Koutsouleris, Nikolaos; Kambeitz, Joseph. (2021). Association between age of cannabis initiation and gray matter covariance networks in recent onset psychosis.. Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, 46(8), 1484-1493. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-021-00977-9
MLA
Penzel, Nora, et al. "Association between age of cannabis initiation and gray matter covariance networks in recent onset psychosis.." Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-021-00977-9
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Association between age of cannabis initiation and gray matt..." RTHC-03425. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/penzel-2021-association-between-age-of
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.