The connection between cannabis use and psychosis has long been a topic of interest for researchers. A recent study led by McGill University sheds light on the brain’s dopamine system as a possible explanation for why cannabis use increases the risk of hallucinations and delusions, key symptoms of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that regulates mood and motivation, and an excess is associated with psychosis. The study reveals that individuals with cannabis use disorder (CUD) have elevated dopamine levels in a brain region linked to psychosis. This finding could help explain why cannabis use increases the risk of hallucinations and delusions.

The study involved 61 participants, including those with and without CUD, as well as individuals with early-stage schizophrenia, some of whom also had CUD. Using a specialized brain scan called neuromelanin-MRI, researchers measured their neuromelanin signal, which reflects dopamine activity. The results showed that people with CUD had an abnormally high neuromelanin signal, and the elevation was tied to the severity of their cannabis use.

These findings have significant implications for educating youth about the risks associated with frequent cannabis use. In Canada, about one-in-five youth are cannabis users, consuming it daily or almost daily. Understanding the potential impact on mental health remains a pressing question.

The study’s lead author, Jessica Ahrens, notes that “for a long time, clinical researchers across the world have been searching for a link showing that cannabis affects the brain mechanism behind psychosis. We now show that a shared dopamine pathway could be the answer.”

Future research will explore whether long-term cannabis use leads to lasting dopamine changes and whether these effects reverse after quitting. As Dr. Lena Palaniyappan, Professor of Psychiatry at McGill and Psychiatrist at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, suggests, “our findings could help doctors and mental health professionals better educate patients about the potential risks of frequent cannabis use, especially for those with a family history of psychosis.”

The study’s publication in Jama Psychiatry provides valuable insights into the link between cannabis use and psychosis, and its findings have important implications for public health and education.

A new study published in Scientific Reports has made a significant breakthrough in understanding the potential risk factors for developing schizophrenia due to cannabis use. Researchers from the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) have identified biomarkers in the blood that could help predict the risk of some individuals developing a psychiatric disorder like schizophrenia if they use cannabis.

Cannabis is one of the most widely used substances globally, with an estimated 228 million users between the ages of 15 and 64. However, the risk of developing schizophrenia increases significantly with cannabis use, especially when it starts at a young age. According to estimates, approximately 10% of cannabis users will develop cannabis use disorder during their lifetime.

The research team compared the fatty acid content in the blood samples taken from individuals with schizophrenia who did not use cannabis, those who used cannabis and developed a cannabis use disorder, and a control group with neither a psychiatric disorder nor drug use. They found considerable differences between these groups, indicating an altered metabolism.

Specifically, they detected that some fatty acids differentiated between the cannabis-using group and the groups with schizophrenia and dual-diagnosis patients. These molecules could potentially be biomarkers for predicting the risk of developing a psychiatric disorder like schizophrenia due to cannabis use.

The study’s findings are promising, as it paves the way forward in identifying blood biomarkers that can help predict the risk of developing a psychiatric disorder. While more research is needed to confirm these results, this study has opened up new avenues for investigation and could lead to the development of more effective prevention strategies.

Dr. Leyre Urigüen, coordinator of the study, expressed optimism about the findings: “I think it’s essential to be capable of finding blood biomarkers that can help predict the risk of developing a psychiatric disorder like schizophrenia due to cannabis use. This study has proven to be the start of this way forward.” The research team is hopeful that these findings will lead to more targeted and effective interventions for individuals at risk of developing schizophrenia due to cannabis use.

The development of new drugs is a complex process that requires extensive testing on animals before they can be approved for human use. Researchers at the University of Zurich have made a groundbreaking discovery that could significantly reduce the number of laboratory animals required in this process.

The team, led by Markus Seeger from the Institute of Medical Microbiology and Johannes vom Berg from the Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, has developed a technology that allows them to test up to 25 antibodies simultaneously in a single mouse. This innovation is set to speed up the research and development pipeline for new drugs while also reducing the number of laboratory animals required.

Antibodies are proteins that specifically bind to certain structures on cells or molecules. They are used in many modern medicines, including treatments for cancer, autoimmune diseases, and infectious diseases. However, testing antibodies individually in animal models is a time-consuming process that requires a large number of laboratory animals.

The new technology uses protein fragments called flycodes to mark each antibody individually. These flycodes act as barcodes, allowing researchers to separate and analyze the individual antibodies from a complex mixture. The results show that this method delivers high-quality preclinical data on the investigated antibodies, reducing the need for multiple animal tests.

One of the most significant advantages of this technology is its potential to reduce the number of laboratory animals required in drug development. According to the researchers, this new method could reduce the number of animals required by a factor of up to 100. This not only speeds up the research and development process but also contributes to reducing animal suffering.

The researchers demonstrated that their flycode technology does not compromise the efficacy of the antibodies in living organisms. They tested the antibodies against cancer cells, and the targeted accumulation worked correctly even when combined with other antibodies. The team also used flycodes to analyze the properties and data for a series of 80 drug-like synthetic biomolecules, known as sybodies.

The breakthrough has significant implications for the pharmaceutical industry, where preclinical tests account for a large proportion of animals used. By reducing the number of animal tests required, this technology can advance preclinical discovery pipelines more efficiently in the future.