Is cannabis neurotoxic for the healthy brain? A meta‐analytical review of structural brain alterations in non‐psychotic users

Despite growing research in the field of cannabis imaging, mostly in those with a psychotic illness, the possible neurotoxic effects of smoked cannabis on the healthy brain have yet to be fully understood. There appears to be a need to evaluate the existing imaging data on the neuroanatomical effects of cannabis use on non‐psychotic populations.

[1]  B. Harrison,et al.  Modulation of brain structure by catechol‐O‐methyltransferase Val158Met polymorphism in chronic cannabis users , 2014, Addiction biology.

[2]  Joaquim Radua,et al.  Neuroanatomical maps of psychosis onset: voxel-wise meta-analysis of antipsychotic-naive VBM studies. , 2012, Schizophrenia bulletin.

[3]  D. Hermann,et al.  Potential protective effects of cannabidiol on neuroanatomical alterations in cannabis users and psychosis: a critical review. , 2012, Current pharmaceutical design.

[4]  S. Borgwardt,et al.  Effects of Cannabis Use on Human Brain Structure in Psychosis: A Systematic Review Combining In Vivo Structural Neuroimaging and Post Mortem Studies , 2012, Current pharmaceutical design.

[5]  Andrew Zalesky,et al.  Effect of long-term cannabis use on axonal fibre connectivity. , 2012, Brain : a journal of neurology.

[6]  Joseph P. Schacht,et al.  Associations between Cannabinoid Receptor-1 (CNR1) Variation and Hippocampus and Amygdala Volumes in Heavy Cannabis Users , 2012, Neuropsychopharmacology.

[7]  M. Yücel,et al.  Orbitofrontal Volumes in Early Adolescence Predict Initiation of Cannabis Use: A 4-Year Longitudinal and Prospective Study , 2012, Biological Psychiatry.

[8]  C. Aiello,et al.  Increasing delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-9-THC) content in herbal cannabis over time: systematic review and meta-analysis. , 2012, Current drug abuse reviews.

[9]  Reinout W. Wiers,et al.  Grey matter alterations associated with cannabis use: Results of a VBM study in heavy cannabis users and healthy controls , 2012, NeuroImage.

[10]  P. McGuire,et al.  Induction of psychosis by Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol reflects modulation of prefrontal and striatal function during attentional salience processing. , 2012, Archives of general psychiatry.

[11]  S. Tapert,et al.  Gender effects on amygdala morphometry in adolescent marijuana users , 2011, Behavioural Brain Research.

[12]  Brian Avants,et al.  Medial temporal structures and memory functions in adolescents with heavy cannabis use. , 2011, Journal of psychiatric research.

[13]  Bita Moghaddam,et al.  The neurobiology of adolescence: Changes in brain architecture, functional dynamics, and behavioral tendencies , 2011, Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews.

[14]  Piotr Bogorodzki,et al.  Altered prefrontal and insular cortical thickness in adolescent marijuana users , 2011, Behavioural Brain Research.

[15]  P. McGuire,et al.  Neural basis of anxiolytic effects of cannabidiol (CBD) in generalized social anxiety disorder: a preliminary report , 2011, Journal of psychopharmacology.

[16]  A. Sartorius,et al.  Diminished gray matter in the hippocampus of cannabis users: possible protective effects of cannabidiol. , 2010, Drug and alcohol dependence.

[17]  E. Gouzoulis-Mayfrank,et al.  Interactions between specific parameters of cannabis use and verbal memory , 2010, Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry.

[18]  M. Yücel,et al.  Structural MRI Findings in Long-Term Cannabis Users: What Do We Know? , 2010, Substance use & misuse.

[19]  S. Bazemore,et al.  Prenatal and postpartum depression in fathers and its association with maternal depression: a meta-analysis. , 2010, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

[20]  A. Mechelli,et al.  Modulation of effective connectivity during emotional processing by Delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol. , 2010, The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology.

[21]  E. Gouzoulis-Mayfrank,et al.  Altered parahippocampal functioning in cannabis users is related to the frequency of use , 2010, Psychopharmacology.

[22]  R. Murray,et al.  Opposite Effects of Δ-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and Cannabidiol on Human Brain Function and Psychopathology , 2010, Neuropsychopharmacology.

[23]  L. Hedges,et al.  The Handbook of Research Synthesis and Meta-Analysis , 2009 .

[24]  P. McGuire,et al.  Cannabis and anxiety: a critical review of the evidence , 2009, Human psychopharmacology.

[25]  P. McGuire,et al.  Neuroimaging in cannabis use: a systematic review of the literature , 2009, Psychological Medicine.

[26]  D. Moher,et al.  Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement , 2009, BMJ.

[27]  D. Moher,et al.  Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA Statement , 2009, BMJ : British Medical Journal.

[28]  Chiara Nosarti,et al.  Modulation of mediotemporal and ventrostriatal function in humans by Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol: a neural basis for the effects of Cannabis sativa on learning and psychosis. , 2009, Archives of general psychiatry.

[29]  M. Yücel,et al.  Regional brain abnormalities associated with long-term heavy cannabis use. , 2008, Archives of general psychiatry.

[30]  N. Ramsey,et al.  Long-term consequences of adolescent cannabis exposure on the development of cognition, brain structure and function: an overview of animal and human research. , 2008, Current drug abuse reviews.

[31]  Xiao-Hua Zhou,et al.  Statistical Methods for Meta‐Analysis , 2008 .

[32]  David J Potter,et al.  Potency of Δ9–THC and Other Cannabinoids in Cannabis in England in 2005: Implications for Psychoactivity and Pharmacology * , 2008, Journal of forensic sciences.

[33]  S. Tapert,et al.  Depressive symptoms in adolescents: associations with white matter volume and marijuana use. , 2007, Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines.

[34]  Arthika Bappal,et al.  A preliminary DTI study showing no brain structural change associated with adolescent cannabis use , 2006, Harm reduction journal.

[35]  D. Yurgelun-Todd,et al.  Lack of hippocampal volume change in long-term heavy cannabis users. , 2005, The American journal on addictions.

[36]  R. Clark,et al.  The medial temporal lobe. , 2004, Annual review of neuroscience.

[37]  Yue Wang,et al.  Endocannabinoids facilitate the induction of LTP in the hippocampus , 2002, Nature Neuroscience.

[38]  S. Thompson,et al.  Quantifying heterogeneity in a meta‐analysis , 2002, Statistics in medicine.

[39]  D. Yurgelun-Todd,et al.  Neuropsychological performance in long-term cannabis users. , 2001, Archives of general psychiatry.

[40]  S. Thayer,et al.  Cannabinoids Inhibit the Formation of New Synapses between Hippocampal Neurons in Culture , 2001, The Journal of Neuroscience.

[41]  J. Townsend,et al.  Normal brain development and aging: quantitative analysis at in vivo MR imaging in healthy volunteers. , 2000, Radiology.

[42]  Mark W. Lipsey,et al.  Practical Meta-Analysis , 2000 .

[43]  S Duval,et al.  Trim and Fill: A Simple Funnel‐Plot–Based Method of Testing and Adjusting for Publication Bias in Meta‐Analysis , 2000, Biometrics.

[44]  A. Hoffman,et al.  Mechanisms of Cannabinoid Inhibition of GABAASynaptic Transmission in the Hippocampus , 2000, The Journal of Neuroscience.

[45]  D S O'Leary,et al.  Effects of frequent marijuana use on brain tissue volume and composition , 2000, Neuroreport.

[46]  I. Olkin,et al.  Improving the quality of reports of meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials: the QUOROM statement , 1999, The Lancet.

[47]  D. Storm,et al.  Hippocampal Neurotoxicity of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol , 1998, The Journal of Neuroscience.

[48]  G. Smith,et al.  Bias in meta-analysis detected by a simple, graphical test , 1997, BMJ.

[49]  F. Benes,et al.  Myelination of a key relay zone in the hippocampal formation occurs in the human brain during childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. , 1994, Archives of general psychiatry.

[50]  R. Orwin A fail-safe N for effect size in meta-analysis. , 1983 .

[51]  K. Anand,et al.  Potential Predictors of Hippocampal Atrophy in Alzheimer’s Disease , 2011, Drugs & aging.

[52]  A. Mack Gyrification brain abnormalities associated with adolescence and early-adulthood cannabis use , 2011 .

[53]  P. McGuire,et al.  Distinct effects of {delta}9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol on neural activation during emotional processing. , 2009, Archives of general psychiatry.

[54]  N. Solowij,et al.  The chronic effects of cannabis on memory in humans: a review. , 2008, Current drug abuse reviews.

[55]  M. Cohen-Zion,et al.  Effects of alcohol and combined marijuana and alcohol use during adolescence on hippocampal volume and asymmetry. , 2007, Neurotoxicology and teratology.

[56]  K. Mackie,et al.  Distribution of cannabinoid receptors in the central and peripheral nervous system. , 2005, Handbook of experimental pharmacology.

[57]  I Olkin,et al.  Improving the quality of reports of meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials: the QUOROM statement. QUOROM Group. , 2000, The British journal of surgery.

[58]  D. Storm,et al.  Hippocampal neurotoxicity of Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol. , 1998, The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience.

[59]  J. Fleiss,et al.  The statistical basis of meta-analysis. , 1993, Statistical methods in medical research.