Researchers Discover Shared Genetic Basis for Cannabis Use and Psychiatric Disorders — A recent study published i |
A study from the University of Oslo has discovered a shared genetic basis for cannabis use and psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, suggesting that a subset of the population might have a higher genetic risk for both. This discovery could have significant clinical implications, such as informing personalized preventive measures, targeted treatments, and more specialized patient stratification.
Genetic factors play an important role in determining an individual’s susceptibility to developing psychiatric disorders or their likelihood of using cannabis. Some of the genetic variants associated with cannabis use are also linked to psychiatric disorders. Using advanced statistical modeling, the study shows that the majority of shared variants increase the risk of both cannabis use and developing either schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Still, there are some genetic variants with opposing effects, that increase the risk of cannabis use while decreasing the risk of the two psychiatric disorders, suggesting a complex relationship.
Cannabis is used medicinally for the relief of pain and as an antidepressant in some regions of the world. Also, one component of cannabis is being considered as a potential treatment for psychosis. “Shared genetic variants with opposing effects may suggest the presence of biological mechanisms that could support the beneficial effects of cannabis”, the researchers point out.
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