Excessive cannabis use induce Dopastat signaling to spin out of ascendance in a part of the nous that is strongly link up to schizophrenia , new research unveil . Using brainpower imaging techniques , the study author were able to observe black spots in this critical neurological region , supply the clear evidence yet for a lineal connection betweencannabis and psychosis .
These dark regions are have by a pigment called neuromelanin , which is exit behind when dopamine levels rise too high . A key neurotransmitter that help to regulate mood , need and cognitive social function , dopaminealso contribute to a range of mental health conditions when its assiduousness in the mind becomes unbalanced .
For example , former enquiry has shown that masses with schizophrenia tend to have increase dopamine levels in a brain region called the dorsal corpus striatum , which is fed by neurons in the substantia nigra [ SN ] and ventral tegmental areas [ VTA ] . Given thatcannabis use has been associated with psychosis , the written report source decided to look into whether elevated dopamine floor could also be escort in these same brain regions in individuals who regularly apply pot .
Using neuromelanin - sensitive magnetic resonance tomography , the researchers scanned the genius of 61 people – 25 of whom had been diagnosed with cannabis utilization disorder – in search of shameful spots in the specific parts of the SN and VTA that are associated with psychosis . certainly enough , they come up a dose - hooked increment in neuromelanin within these region , meaning that lowering cannabis use was associate to larger black bit .
“ In hoi polloi share in supernumerary marijuana function , those spots are blacker than what they should be for their age compared to healthy individuals , ” said study generator Lena Palaniyappan in astatement . “ This indicates they have gamey levels of dopamine , and in some cases are showing pigments someone 10 days Old would have . ”
Worryingly , this growth was notice in all player with cannabis use disorder , include those who had never experienced an installment of psychosis . However , the connection between excessivecannabisuse and enhanced neuromelanin was twice as strong in those who had suffer a psychotic event .
“ We saw an increase of bleak spots in a peculiar region of the midbrain associated with psychosis - the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental areas , ” said study source Ali Khan . “ This addition was seen in those with cannabis function disorder regardless of whether they have first - installment schizophrenia , ” he proceed .
order these findings into context , Palaniyappan close that “ we now have grounds that shows a square production line link marihuana with dopamine and psychosis that has never been shown before , and it ’s important that clinicians , affected role , and families work together to break this agate line . ”
The study is published in the journalJAMA Psychiatry .
