Development and Psychopathology· 2026Q1
Brain structure correlates of circulating endocannabinoids and related lipids in early adolescents
- 0citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Circulating endocannabinoids and related lipids correlate with cortical thickness, surface area, and volume in early adolescents (N=294, ages 10-14).
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- Circulating endocannabinoids (eCBs) and related lipids were associated with brain morphometry in early adolescents.
- Significant covariances were found between eCB levels and cortical thickness, surface area, and volume.
- The study included 294 participants aged 10-14 from the ABCD study.
- Structural equation modeling was used to analyze cross-sectional associations.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Abstract The endocannabinoid (eCB) system underlies many biological processes and is thought to be critical in adolescent brain development. However, the eCB system’s contributions to brain morphometry during adolescence remains understudied. Here we investigated cross-sectional associations between brain structure and circulating eCBs and related lipids in a subsample of adolescents ( N = 294, ages 10–14, 44.5% female, 65.3% White) from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) study utilizing a structural equation modeling approach. After accounting for sex and age, significant covariance between circulating eCBs and related lipids and cortical thickness, surface area, and volume in brain regions throughout the cortex were revealed. While the mechanisms underlying these associations need further research, these results suggest that the eCB system likely plays a critical role in early-adolescent brain development. Future work should determine underlying mechanisms, evaluate these associations longitudinally, and consider sex differences and the modulatory effects of pubertal hormones.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Development and Psychopathology, 2026 · DOI ↗
Continue with a free account
Ask the paper: 3 free questions a day about this paper; save it, get its citation, new summaries every day for your field. Takeaways are Premium.
Continue free on the webSign in with Google or Apple; no card needed. You come back to this paper.
On your phone:
Field: Pharmacology (Medicine)
PharmacologyMedicine