A new study suggests that changes in the brain chemical glutamate may help explain why frequent cannabis use is linked to a higher risk of psychosis in some people. Researchers analyzed 79 individuals with varying levels of psychosis risk and found that cannabis users with lower glutamate levels in the anterior cingulate cortex experienced more severe hallucinations, delusions, and other psychotic symptoms. While the study does not prove that cannabis directly causes these brain changes, it identifies glutamate as a potential biological pathway connecting cannabis use and psychosis. The findings could guide future treatments and improve understanding of who may be most vulnerable to cannabis-related mental health problems.
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