TY - JOUR
T1 - Prefrontal cortex and putamen grey matter alterations in cannabis and tobacco users
AU - Daniju, Yusuf
AU - Faulkner, Paul
AU - Brandt, Kaz
AU - Allen, Paul
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2022.
PY - 2022/12
Y1 - 2022/12
N2 - Background: Previous magnetic resonance imaging studies in regular cannabis users report altered grey matter volume (GMV) in brain regions, including the prefrontal cortex (PFC), putamen and hippocampus. However, most studies have tended to recruit recreational users with high levels of cannabis use, and have not controlled for the possible confounding effects of tobacco use. We attempt to address these limitations in the present study. Methods: We acquired volumetric images in sex, age and IQ-matched groups of (1) regular Cannabis users who also smoke Tobacco cigarettes (‘CT’; n = 33), (2) non-cannabis-using Tobacco cigarette smokers (‘T’; n = 19) and (3) non-cannabis/tobacco-using Controls (‘C’; n = 35). GMV in bilateral PFC, putamen and hippocampal regions was compared across groups. We also examined the associations between GMV differences and levels of cannabis and tobacco use, measures of intellectual function, and of depression, anxiety and stress. Results: Relative to controls, both CT and T groups showed lower GMV in the left inferior frontal gyrus, and greater GMV in the putamen. In addition, lower GMV in the right frontal pole in the CT group (but not the T group) was associated with lifetime cannabis use, but not with cigarette use. Conclusions: Regular cannabis users who also smoked tobacco cigarettes showed altered GMV patterns relative to controls. However, a similar pattern of GMV differences was also seen between regular tobacco users that did not use cannabis. Further research is needed to disentangle the effects of cannabis and tobacco use on brain structure.
AB - Background: Previous magnetic resonance imaging studies in regular cannabis users report altered grey matter volume (GMV) in brain regions, including the prefrontal cortex (PFC), putamen and hippocampus. However, most studies have tended to recruit recreational users with high levels of cannabis use, and have not controlled for the possible confounding effects of tobacco use. We attempt to address these limitations in the present study. Methods: We acquired volumetric images in sex, age and IQ-matched groups of (1) regular Cannabis users who also smoke Tobacco cigarettes (‘CT’; n = 33), (2) non-cannabis-using Tobacco cigarette smokers (‘T’; n = 19) and (3) non-cannabis/tobacco-using Controls (‘C’; n = 35). GMV in bilateral PFC, putamen and hippocampal regions was compared across groups. We also examined the associations between GMV differences and levels of cannabis and tobacco use, measures of intellectual function, and of depression, anxiety and stress. Results: Relative to controls, both CT and T groups showed lower GMV in the left inferior frontal gyrus, and greater GMV in the putamen. In addition, lower GMV in the right frontal pole in the CT group (but not the T group) was associated with lifetime cannabis use, but not with cigarette use. Conclusions: Regular cannabis users who also smoked tobacco cigarettes showed altered GMV patterns relative to controls. However, a similar pattern of GMV differences was also seen between regular tobacco users that did not use cannabis. Further research is needed to disentangle the effects of cannabis and tobacco use on brain structure.
KW - Cannabis
KW - grey matter
KW - prefrontal cortex
KW - putamen
KW - tobacco
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85138271087&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/02698811221117523
DO - 10.1177/02698811221117523
M3 - Article
C2 - 36112825
AN - SCOPUS:85138271087
SN - 0269-8811
VL - 36
SP - 1315
EP - 1323
JO - Journal of Psychopharmacology
JF - Journal of Psychopharmacology
IS - 12
ER -
