Brain Health

Research Aims

Psychotic disorders are common serious mental disorders affecting up to 3% of the population. Cannabis is the most widely used substance in this population, present in 30-40% of individuals entering treatment, and is often a complicating factor for treatment. Ongoing cannabis use is associated with worse symptoms, poorer medication adherence, and increased risk and length of relapse. In contrast to these adverse effects on youth mental health, both cognitive performance as well as brain activity have been shown to be better in individuals who previously used cannabis compared to those who never used. Cannabis has been reported to have anti-inflammatory properties and a number of studies have shown that both THC and CBD have immunomodulatory effects and can suppress levels of circulating proinflammatory cytokines which we have shown are elevated in individuals with early psychosis. Systemic inflammation and metabolic syndrome are tightly linked and dysfunction of these systems may in fact be modulated by cannabis use. These data suggest the novel hypothesis that the positive metabolic effects and anti-inflammatory properties of cannabis might provide a mechanism by which cannabis alters cognition, brain structure and function in individuals with emerging psychosis.

Volunteer for this research study!

As mentioned above, the goal of the Brain Health study is to investigate how environmental factors like diet and substance use interact with metabolism and inflammation to influence symptoms of psychosis. This study recruits a wide range of participants, which include people with any symptoms of psychosis, no matter how severe. We also hope to recruit people with a range of substance use patterns, from those who have never used or rarely used through people who regularly use substances, like cannabis. We ask participants to complete verbal tasks and a computer task involving letter patterns. We use cutting-edge, non-invasive MRI techniques to evaluate the structure and function of the brain. We also have individuals complete questionnaires and a clinical interview. Ultimately, we hope to gain a better understanding of psychotic symptoms and use this information to improve treatment methods.