Cannabis Use Linked to Epigenetic Changes, Study Finds
A recent study has discovered a link between cannabis use and epigenetic changes in the human body. The research, published in 2023, analyzed data from over 1,000 adults and found that cannabis use may cause changes in the epigenome, which acts as a set of switches that activate or deactivate genes involved in various bodily functions.
The study, conducted by researchers at Northwestern University, used data from a long-running health study that tracked participants over two decades. The participants, who were between 18 and 30 years old when the study began, were surveyed about their cannabis use over the years and provided blood samples at the 15- and 20-year marks.
The researchers analyzed the epigenetic changes in the blood samples, specifically looking at DNA methylation levels, which is a common epigenetic modification. DNA methylation affects how easily cells “read” and interpret genes, similar to someone covering up key lines in a set of instructions.
The study found that cannabis use was associated with multiple epigenetic markers across time. In the 15-year blood samples, 22 markers were associated with recent cannabis use, and 31 were associated with cumulative cannabis use. In the 20-year blood samples, 132 markers were linked to recent use, and 16 were linked to cumulative use.
The researchers also found that some epigenetic changes associated with cannabis use had previously been linked to various health issues, such as cellular proliferation, hormone signaling, infections, neurological disorders, and substance use disorders. However, the study did not prove that cannabis directly causes these changes or health problems.
The study’s lead author, epidemiologist Lifang Hou, noted that the findings suggest a potential shared epigenetic regulation between tobacco and marijuana use. Hou emphasized that additional studies are needed to determine whether these associations are consistently observed in different populations and to examine the long-term effects of cannabis use on health.
The study’s findings have implications for our understanding of the effects of cannabis use on the human body and may provide insight into the long-term effects of cannabis use on health.
