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Alteration to hippocampal volume and shape confined to cannabis dependence: A multi-site study
Chye, Yann Lorenzetti, Valentina Suo, Chao Batalla, Albert Cousijn, Janna Goudriaan, Anna E. Jenkinson, Mark Martin-Santos, Rocio Whittle, Sarah Yücel, Murat
Chye, Yann
Lorenzetti, Valentina
Suo, Chao
Batalla, Albert
Cousijn, Janna
Goudriaan, Anna E.
Jenkinson, Mark
Martin-Santos, Rocio
Whittle, Sarah
Yücel, Murat
Abstract
Cannabis use is highly prevalent and often considered to be relatively harmless. Nonetheless, a subset of regular cannabis users may develop dependence, experiencing poorer quality of life and greater mental health problems relative to non‐dependent users. The neuroanatomy characterizing cannabis use versus dependence is poorly understood. We aimed to delineate the contributing role of cannabis use and dependence on morphology of the hippocampus, one of the most consistently altered brain regions in cannabis users, in a large multi‐site dataset aggregated across four research sites. We compared hippocampal volume and vertex‐level hippocampal shape differences (1) between 121 non‐using controls and 140 cannabis users; (2) between 106 controls, 50 non‐dependent users and 70 dependent users; and (3) between a subset of 41 controls, 41 non‐dependent users and 41 dependent users, matched on sample characteristics and cannabis use pattern (onset age and dosage). Cannabis users did not differ from controls in hippocampal volume or shape. However, cannabis‐dependent users had significantly smaller right and left hippocampi relative to controls and non‐dependent users, irrespective of cannabis dosage. Shape analysis indicated localized deflations in the superior‐medial body of the hippocampus. Our findings support neuroscientific theories postulating dependence‐specific neuroadaptations in cannabis users. Future efforts should uncover the neurobiological risk and liabilities separating dependent and non‐dependent use of cannabis.
Keywords
brain, cannabis, dependence, hippocampus, MRI, neuroimaging, substance use
Date
2019
Type
Journal article
Journal
Addiction Biology
Book
Volume
24
Issue
4
Page Range
822-834
Article Number
ACU Department
School of Behavioural and Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
Published as green open access
License
File Access
Open
Controlled
Controlled
Notes
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Chye, Y., Lorenzetti, V., Suo, C., Batalla, A., Cousijn, J., Goudriaan, A. E., Jenkinson, M., Martin‐Santos, R., Whittle, S., Yücel, M., and Solowij, N. (2019) Alteration to hippocampal volume and shape confined to cannabis dependence: a multi‐site study, Addiction Biology, 24, 822– 834. https://doi.org/10.1111/adb.12652 , which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/adb.12652 . This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.