Abstract
Introduction: Long-term consequences of medicinal cannabis use in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) are unknown. This study investigated whether PwMS using cannabis had lower resting brain glucose uptake (GU) and worse clinical test results compared with nonusers.Methods: Sixteen PwMS, eight users, underwent clinical testing followed by [18F]-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging.Results: Users had lower cognitive function test scores, but performed similarly on the other clinical evaluations. Accounting for disease duration, resting brain GU was similar between the groups.Conclusions: Lower cognitive function was not associated with resting brain GU. Cognitive dysfunction may be a contraindication or consequence of cannabis use in PwMS.
Highlights
Long-term consequences of medicinal cannabis use in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) are unknown
FDG-Positron emission tomography (PET) studies have shown that regular heavy alcohol use,[9] cannabis,[10] and other illegal drug use[11,12] could lead to lower resting nervous system glucose uptake (GU)
Ings: Regular cannabis use does not result in lower resting brain GU in PwMS, balance and mobility were mostly similar between the groups, and Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) scores were lower in cannabis users
Summary
Long-term consequences of medicinal cannabis use in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) are unknown. This study investigated whether PwMS using cannabis had lower resting brain glucose uptake (GU) and worse clinical test results compared with nonusers. Several short-term interventional studies have generally shown some beneficial effects on spasticity and pain,[3,4] and have led to loose recommendations for cannabis use.[5] While some benefits have been observed, several studies reported that PwMS using cannabis performed worse on cognitive tasks.[6,7,8]. Positron emission tomography (PET), with the glucose analog [18F]-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), has been used to investigate brain function in healthy and clinical populations. FDG-PET studies have shown that regular heavy alcohol use,[9] cannabis,[10] and other illegal drug use[11,12] could lead to lower resting nervous system glucose uptake (GU). How cannabis use affects brain GU in PwMS is unknown
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