Altered cerebral blood flow and neurocognitive correlates in adolescent cannabis users
Joanna Jacobus & Diane Goldenberg &
Christina E. Wierenga & Neil J. Tolentino &
Thomas T. Liu & Susan F. Tapert
Despite an increase in reported cannabis use in adolescence
(Johnston et al. 2010), the structural and neurovascular effects
of the drug on the brain are still not well understood. Some
studies have shown cannabis use to be associated with alterations
in brain tissue structure (Ashtari et al. 2009; Bava et al.
2010) and function (Abdullaev et al. 2010; Schweinsburg et al.
2011; Tapert et al. 2007), while others have shown fairly
limited findings (Delisi et al. 2006; Jacobus et al. 2009a).
The neurotoxic effects of cannabis use are still inconclusive,
and only a few studies have investigated the effects of cannabis
use on cerebral blood flow (CBF) in adults, which can aid in
interpretation of blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal
measured in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
Better quantification of CBF can help interpret neuronal signaling
and cognitive functioning and any neurovascular pathology
associated with cannabis use.
To our knowledge, CBF
has not yet been examined in adolescent cannabis users.
