Long-term effects of teen THC exposure on the brain and motivation
Official title: Neural and Behavioral Consequences of Chronic THC Exposure During Adolescence
Funded at Mclean Hospital · NIH-11335572 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether regular THC exposure during the teen years causes lasting changes in the brain and in motivation and thinking into adulthood.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mclean Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Belmont, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2019 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,235,789 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA047575-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11335572 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People most relevant to this work are teens or young adults with a history of frequent or heavy cannabis use during adolescence and their families interested in long-term effects.
✕Less likely to help
Those without a history of adolescent cannabis use or who used only occasionally are less likely to find direct personal benefit from these specific results.
What this research studies
This work follows adolescent-period exposure to Δ9-THC using a controlled nonhuman primate model to mirror teen cannabis use. Animals received moderate to high THC for six months during late adolescence, then were followed into adulthood. Researchers used brain imaging and a range of behavioral tests of motivation, reward learning, and cognitive flexibility to see which changes persisted. The goal is to link specific brain changes with lasting shifts in motivation and cognitive performance.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could clarify long-term brain and behavioral risks from teen cannabis use and guide prevention and treatment efforts.
How similar studies have gone: Human imaging and cognitive studies have found associations between adolescent cannabis use and brain or motivational changes, and this controlled primate work builds on that by providing stronger causal evidence.
Where this research is happening
-
Mclean Hospital
Belmont, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bergman, Jack — Mclean Hospital
- Study coordinator: Bergman, Jack
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.