Brain Changes in Cannabis Use Disorder and Recovery
Official title: Do hippocampal synaptic density deficits in cannabis use disorder improve following abstinence?
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11099737 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at how cannabis use affects brain connections and if these connections can get better after someone stops using cannabis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $514,058 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA054314-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11099737 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with cannabis use disorder who are willing to abstain from cannabis for four weeks.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not currently using cannabis or are unwilling to abstain for the study period may not directly benefit from participation.
What this research studies
We know that cannabis use, especially during adolescence when the brain is still growing, can change how the brain works. Previous findings suggest that people with cannabis use disorder might have fewer connections between brain cells in a memory-related area called the hippocampus. This project aims to see if these brain connections improve after a person with cannabis use disorder stops using cannabis for four weeks. We will use special brain scans to measure these connections and also check how memory performance changes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could show that brain changes from cannabis use are reversible, offering hope and a clear benefit for those seeking abstinence.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work by this team has shown lower synaptic density in cannabis use disorder, but whether these changes improve with abstinence is a new question.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: D'souza, Deepak Cyril — Yale University
- Study coordinator: D'souza, Deepak Cyril
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.