Daily Cannabis Use in Young Adults Linked to a Novel Marker of Chronic Inflammation
Daily or near-daily cannabis users at age 24 had significantly elevated suPAR, a biomarker of systemic chronic inflammation, even after controlling for tobacco, BMI, and childhood trauma, while less frequent use showed no association.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Among 914 participants from the ALSPAC cohort, daily/near-daily cannabis use at age 24 was strongly associated with elevated suPAR (a chronic inflammation biomarker implicated in neurodegenerative processes). Less frequent cannabis use was not associated with suPAR. No associations were found between cannabis use and traditional inflammatory markers (IL-6, TNF-alpha, CRP).
Key Numbers
914 participants from ALSPAC; daily/near-daily use associated with elevated suPAR; less frequent use: no association; IL-6, TNF-alpha, CRP: no association with any cannabis use level
How They Did This
Analysis of 914 participants from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), measuring IL-6, TNF-alpha, CRP, and suPAR at age 24 and comparing across daily, less frequent, and no past-year cannabis use, adjusting for sociodemographics, BMI, childhood trauma, and tobacco smoking.
Why This Research Matters
suPAR is a biomarker of systemic chronic inflammation linked to neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative processes. Finding it elevated specifically in daily cannabis users provides a potential biological mechanism connecting heavy cannabis use to mental health and brain health risks.
The Bigger Picture
This is a novel finding. suPAR has been linked to accelerated aging, organ damage, and mental disorders. If daily cannabis use truly elevates this marker, it could help explain the dose-response relationship between cannabis use frequency and mental health outcomes.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional inflammation measurement at a single time point. Cannot determine if cannabis caused the suPAR elevation or vice versa. Single cohort (ALSPAC). suPAR is a relatively new biomarker without established clinical thresholds.
Questions This Raises
- ?Does cannabis cessation normalize suPAR levels?
- ?Could suPAR serve as a clinical biomarker to identify cannabis users at highest health risk?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Daily cannabis use was associated with elevated suPAR, a chronic inflammation biomarker linked to brain health
- Evidence Grade:
- Well-established cohort (ALSPAC) with comprehensive adjustment for confounders, but cross-sectional inflammation measurement at a single age.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2024.
- Original Title:
- Cannabis use in youth is associated with chronic inflammation.
- Published In:
- Psychological medicine, 54(16), 1-11 (2024)
- Authors:
- Power, Emmet(2), Mongan, David, Healy, Colm(2), Susai, Subash Raj, Föcking, Melanie, Zammit, Stanley, Cannon, Mary, Cotter, David
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05633
Evidence Hierarchy
Follows a group of people over time to track how outcomes develop.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does cannabis cause chronic inflammation?
This study found daily cannabis use was linked to elevated suPAR, a marker of chronic systemic inflammation, but could not prove cannabis caused the elevation.
Is occasional cannabis use also linked to inflammation?
No. Only daily or near-daily use showed the association. Less frequent use was not linked to suPAR or any other inflammatory marker.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05633APA
Power, Emmet; Mongan, David; Healy, Colm; Susai, Subash Raj; Föcking, Melanie; Zammit, Stanley; Cannon, Mary; Cotter, David. (2024). Cannabis use in youth is associated with chronic inflammation.. Psychological medicine, 54(16), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291724002848
MLA
Power, Emmet, et al. "Cannabis use in youth is associated with chronic inflammation.." Psychological medicine, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291724002848
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabis use in youth is associated with chronic inflammatio..." RTHC-05633. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/power-2024-cannabis-use-in-youth
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.