login
Become a member
Quick Registration
Full Registration Benefits -
Free Homepages for Doctors
Free Homepages for Hospitals
Free Homepages for Medical Conference
Free Homepages for NGO's
Personal Health Record Creation
Access to all Medical Slides
Access to all Jobs & Products Sale
Marijuana Linked to Schizophrenia
The researchers say that activation of the cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1R), the site of action of the main chemical ingredient of marijuana, impairs signalling by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an important neurotransmitter essential for core cognitive processes such as working memory.
Writing about their observations in the Archives of General Psychiatry, the researchers have revealed that the use of marijuana in individuals with schizophrenia appears to worsen this deficit in GABA synthesis.
The researchers say that their suggest possible new drug targets that could help to improve function in people with the mental illness, given that reduced GABA is known to be present in schizophrenia.
"Heavy marijuana use, particularly in adolescence, appears to be associated with an increased risk for the later development of schizophrenia, and the course of illness is worse for people with schizophrenia who use marijuana," said Dr. David A. Lewis, corresponding author of the study and UPMC Endowed Professor in Translational Neuroscience, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
"We wanted to understand the biological mechanisms that could explain these observations, and with this study, I believe that we can narrow down at least part of the 'why' to CB1R, the receptor for both tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, and the brains own cannabinoid chemical messengers," he added.
|
|
|
 Comment & Contribute
|
Medwonders Health Network
- Health News Index
- News Quick Links
 |
Schizophrenia
Complete Medindia Resources
|
| News Categories: |
| » | Schizophrenia Drug Differentiates Cancer Stem Cells into Less Threatening Cells |
| » | Docs Who Seldom Meet Drug Reps Continue to Prescribe Drugs With FDA “Black Box” Warnings |
| » | Revision in Quality Standards for Heparin |
| » | Acne Drug Users At High Risk of Developing Eye Infections |
| » | Patients Who Take Antidepressants When in ICU More Likely to Die |
| More Drug News | |
|
