What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: Neuroprotection.

Where was this research published?

Published in NeuroImage on September 18, 2026.

Prenatal cannabis linked to newborn brain surface differences

Q: What did this research study find?

In this prospective human cohort, **18 cannabis-exposed neonates** were compared with **21 unexposed neonates** using structural brain imaging in the first month of life.

Prenatal Cannabis Exposure is Associated with Occipitotemporal Brain Surface Area in Neonates.

NeuroImage • September 18, 2026 • Highly Relevant

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AI Summary

This prospective human cohort study asked whether chronic prenatal cannabis exposure is associated with differences in newborn brain structure. Researchers compared 18 mother–neonate pairs with prenatal exposure to 21 unexposed pairs; exposure was confirmed through cannabis-metabolite testing during the third trimester and at birth. Alcohol, tobacco, and other substance use were excluded. Brain images were collected at a median age of 24 days after birth, focusing on selected prefrontal and occipitotemporal regions.

The primary structural measure showed no detected differences in cortical thickness. However, exposed neonates had significantly lower surface area in the right fusiform gyrus and right lingual gyrus, both parts of the occipitotemporal region. These findings indicate an association detectable within the first month of life, but this abstract-based summary cannot establish that cannabis caused the differences, whether they affect later development, or whether they are clinically meaningful. The relatively small, observational, exposure-selected cohort is an important limitation.

💡 Key Findings

In this prospective human cohort, 18 cannabis-exposed neonates were compared with 21 unexposed neonates using structural brain imaging in the first month of life.

High

85%

No differences were detected in cortical thickness in the studied prefrontal and occipitotemporal regions.

Good

75%

Prenatal cannabis exposure was associated with significantly lower surface area in the right fusiform gyrus and right lingual gyrus.

Good

78%

The study supports an early-life brain-structure association, but does not establish causation or later developmental consequences.

High

90%

📄 Original Abstract

IMPORTANCE: Prenatal cannabis use has been associated with neurodevelopmental consequences for the offspring beginning in childhood; however, it is unclear if neonatal brain structural morphometry is impacted shortly after birth. OBJECTIVE: We examined differences in regional surface morphometry among neonates exposed to chronic in utero cannabis compared to unexposed neonates. DESIGN: The Moms Helping Moms study is a prospective pre-birth cohort selected based on chronic prenatal cannabis use and an unexposed control group. Exclusion criteria included alcohol, tobacco, or other substance use. Participants included in this analysis included 18 mother-neonate pairs with prenatal cannabis exposure and 21 unexposed pairs. Chronic cannabis exposure was based on detection of cannabis metabolites in maternal biospecimens in the third trimester and infant biospecimens at birth. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: T1-weighted structural images were obtained on neonates at a median postnatal age of 24 days (IQR 18-27 days). The analysis focused on the prefrontal (superior frontal) and occipitotemporal regions (the fusiform and lingual gyri) using NEOCIVET with Destrieux parcellation to derive mean cortical thickness and total surface area. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) generalized linear regression models were used to adjust for structural confounding bias. RESULTS: No differences in cortical thickness were detected in the regions of interest. Surface area was significantly lower among the exposed neonates in the right fusiform gyrus and right lingual gyrus. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Prenatal cannabis use impacted neonatal surface area in the occipitotemporal region that were detectable in the first month of life.

Paper Type

📄 Research

Publication

Journal: NeuroImage
Published: September 18, 2026
PMID: 42759780
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.122242

Authors (13)

Alexander J Dufford Center for Mental Health Innovation and Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, Oregon, 97239, USA. Electronic address: dufford@ohsu.edu.
Sun Hyung Kim Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB# 7160, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. Electronic address: sunhyung_kim@med.unc.edu.
Martin Styner Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB# 7160, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Department of Computer Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 201 S. Columbia St. CB 3175, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3175, USA. Electronic address: styner@email.unc.edu.
Xinyi Shen Department of Epidemiology Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center, 1890 North Revere Court, Room 1018, Aurora, Colorado 80045, Aurora, CO, USA. Electronic address: Xinyi.shen@cuanschutz.edu.
Erika Iisa Department of Epidemiology Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center, 1890 North Revere Court, Room 1018, Aurora, Colorado 80045, Aurora, CO, USA. Electronic address: Erika.Iisa@state.co.us.
+8 more authors