Schizophrenia More Likely to Lead to Cannabis Use…. Not the Reverse - Dr Dave Hepburn

Article recommend by Dr. Dave Hepburn:

GWAS of lifetime cannabis use reveals new risk loci, genetic overlap with psychiatric traits, and a causal influence of schizophrenia.

Abstract 

Cannabis use is a heritable trait that has been associated with adverse mental health outcomes. In the largest genome-wide association study (GWAS) for lifetime cannabis use to date (N = 184,765), we identified eight genome-wide significant independent single nucleotide polymorphisms in six regions. All measured genetic variants combined explained 11% of the variance. Gene-based tests revealed 35 significant genes in 16 regions, and S-PrediXcan analyses showed that 21 genes had different expression levels for cannabis users versus nonusers. The strongest finding across the different analyses was CADM2, which has been associated with substance use and risk-taking. Significant genetic correlations were found with 14 of 25 tested substance use and mental health-related traits, including smoking, alcohol use, schizophrenia and risk-taking. Mendelian randomization analysis showed evidence for a causal positive influence of schizophrenia risk on cannabis use. Overall, our study provides new insights into the etiology of cannabis use and its relation with mental health.

“It is well known that cannabis use is higher in those with schizophrenia. However, cannabis has never been shown to cause schizophrenia; in fact, the opposite appears to be true as more research is lining up showing that those with schizophrenia are more likely to turn to cannabis, possibly to help deal with the social isolation and/or a genetic predisposition as this study infers. Once again, any who claim that cannabis causes schizophrenia, are simply incorrect.” 

Dr. Dave Hepburn

To read the full article please visit:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30150663

Dr. David Hepburn website:
doctordavidhepburn.com

   

CBD to prevent schizophrenia? - Dr. David Hepburn

Article recommend by Dr. David Hepburn:

Cannabidiol Administered During Peri-Adolescence Prevents Behavioral Abnormalities in an Animal Model of Schizophrenia

Abstract: 

Schizophrenia is considered a debilitating neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorder and its pharmacotherapy remains problematic without recent major advances. The development of interventions able to prevent the emergence of schizophrenia would therefore represent an enormous progress. Here, we investigated whether treatment with cannabidiol (CBD – a compound of Cannabis sativa that presents an antipsychotic profile in animals and humans) during peri-adolescence would prevent schizophrenia-like behavioral abnormalities in an animal model of schizophrenia: the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) strain. Wistar rats and SHRs were treated with vehicle or CBD from 30 to 60 post-natal days. In experiment 1, schizophrenia-like behaviors (locomotor activity, social interaction, prepulse inhibition of startle and contextual fear conditioning) were assessed on post-natal day 90. Side effects commonly associated with antipsychotic treatment were also evaluated: body weight gain and catalepsy throughout the treatment, and oral dyskinesia 48 h after treatment interruption and on post-natal day 90. In experiment 2, serum levels of triglycerides and glycemia were assessed on post-natal day 61. In experiment 3, levels of BDNF, monoamines, and their metabolites were evaluated on post-natal days 61 and 90 in the prefrontal cortex and striatum. Treatment with CBD prevented the emergence of SHRs’ hyperlocomotor activity (a model for the positive symptoms of schizophrenia) and deficits in prepulse inhibition of startle and contextual fear conditioning (cognitive impairments). CBD did not induce any of the potential motor or metabolic side effects evaluated. Treatment with CBD increased the prefrontal cortex 5-HIAA/serotonin ratio and the levels of 5-HIAA on post-natal days 61 and 90, respectively. Our data provide pre-clinical evidence for a safe and beneficial effect of peripubertal and treatment with CBD on preventing positive and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia, and suggest the involvement of the serotoninergic system on this effect.

“Schizophrenia is undoubtedly one of the scourges of our time, robbing so many of so much. While studies have indicated that CBD mitigates some of the symptoms of psychosis without the side effects of others neuroleptic, could it also actually prevent schizophrenia?” Dr. David Hepburn

To read the full article please visit:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6113576/

Dr. David Hepburn website:
doctordavidhepburn.com