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Cited by 17Cannabis and Cannabinoid ResearchSubstance Abuse Treatment and OutcomesSchizophrenia research and treatment

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 9 of the 9 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Brain Anatomical Alterations in Young Cannabis Users: Is it All Hype? A Meta-Analysis of Structural Neuroimaging Studies

Open access
Lorenzetti, Valentina, Kowalczyk, Magdalena, Duehlmeyer, Leonie, Greenwood, Lisa-Marie, Chye, Yann, Yücel, Murat, Whittle, Sarah, Roberts, Carl A·2023·Cannabis & Cannabinoid Research
DOI 10.1089/can.2021.0099
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Abstract

Introduction: Cannabis use has a high prevalence in young youth and is associated with poor psychosocial outcomes. Such outcomes have been ascribed to the impact of cannabis exposure on the developing brain. However, findings from individual studies of volumetry in youth cannabis users are equivocal. Objectives: Our primary objective was to systematically review the evidence on brain volume differences between young cannabis users and nonusers aged 12–26 where profound neuromaturation occurs, accounting for the role of global brain volumes (GBVs). Our secondary objective was to systematically integrate the findings on the association between youth age and volumetry in youth cannabis users. Finally, we aimed to evaluate the quality of the evidence. Materials and Methods: A systematic search was run in three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and PsycINFO) and was reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We run meta-analyses (with and without controlling for GBV) of brain volume differences between young cannabis users and nonusers. We conducted metaregressions to explore the role of age on volumetric differences. Results: Sixteen studies were included. The reviewed samples included 830 people with mean age 22.5 years (range 14–26 years). Of these, 386 were cannabis users (with cannabis use onset at 15–19 years) and 444 were controls. We found no detectable group differences in any of the GBVs (intracranium, total brain, total white matter, and total gray matter) and regional brain volumes (i.e., hippocampus, amygdala, orbitofrontal cortex, and total cerebellum). Age and cannabis use level did not predict (standardized mean) volume group differences in metaregression. We found little evidence of publication bias (Egger's test p >0.1). Conclusions: Contrary to evidence in adult samples (or in samples mixing adults and youth), previous single studies in young cannabis users, and meta-analyses of brain function in young cannabis users, this early evidence suggests nonsignificant volume differences between young cannabis users and nonusers. While prolonged and long-term exposure to heavy cannabis use may be required to detect gross volume alterations, more studies in young cannabis users are needed to map in detail cannabis-related neuroanatomical changes.

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Crossref · 10.1089/can.2021.0099

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  • These alterations were more consistently observed in persons with a history of chronic cannabis use.

    “These alterations were more consistently observed in persons with a history of chronic cannabis use [76].”

    From Cannabis, cannabinoids and health: a review of evidence on risks and medical benefits (2025) · cites this paper as [76]

  • A recent meta-analysis of 16 studies found no evidence of differences in global brain volume between cannabis users and non-users aged 12-16.

    “A recent meta-analysis of 16 studies that examined global brain volume (GBV) of 12–16 year-olds found no evidence of differences in GBV between cannabis users and non-users [154].”

    From Consequences of adolescent drug use (2023) · cites this paper as [154]

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Metadata

Authors
Lorenzetti, V., Kowalczyk, M., Duehlmeyer, L., Greenwood, L.-M., Chye, Y., Yücel, M., Whittle, S., & Roberts, C. A.
Affiliations
  • Australian Catholic University (AU)
  • Australian National University (AU)
  • BrainPark, The Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences and Monash Biomedical Imaging Facility, Clayton, Australia.
  • The University of Melbourne (AU)
  • University of Liverpool (GB)
Corresponding author
Lorenzetti, Valentina
ORCID
Venue
Cannabis & Cannabinoid Research
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2023-02-01
Volume
8
Issue
1
Pages
184-196
ISSN
  • 2378-8763 (ISSN-L)
  • 2578-5125
DOI
10.1089/can.2021.0099
OpenAlex
W4224219395
Cited by
17
References
9
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 2
FWCI
0.57
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Minerva Access (University of Melbourne) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology (medical) › Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
Keywords
cannabis use, brain volume, regional brain volume, hippocampus, amygdala, orbitofrontal cortex, cerebellum, white matter, gray matter, brain development, neuroanatomical changes
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Brain, Cannabis, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Young Adult, Neuroimaging, Gray Matter

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