Teen pot smokers risk schizophrenia
A study claimed the specific gene known as “COMP-VAL” put teenagers in danger of developing psychosis if they regularly smoke cannabis. Scientists conducted experiments on cannabis exposure among adult and adolescent mice, with and without the “COMP-VAL” gene. They found the gene, and cannabis, affect the levels of the brain chemical dopamine, according to the study’s results, published in the scientific journal Neuropsychopharmacology.
Scientists discovered the gene increased the uptake of dopamine in areas of the brain linked to feelings of reward and addiction.
However, smoking cannabis decreased the uptake of dopamine in other areas, putting patients at risk of schizophrenia and other forms of mental illness.
Colm O’Tuathaigh – a neuroscientist at the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin – said identifying people at risk could help doctors warn them of the dangers of cannabis use before they developed a mental illness.
“If you have this gene variant it’s not going to change your life significantly in most aspects, but it will put you at a statistically increased risk of developing schizophrenia. If you have the variable I would suggest you do not smoke cannabis,” Mr O’Tuathaigh said.
Source of material: heraldsun.com.au