PET imaging of FAAH in chronic Cannabis users: longitudinal assessment during short-term abstinence

C]CURB binding. Participants with CUD were scanned once after overnight abstinence (T1) and ~3-7 days after monitored last use (T2). FAAH polymorphism (rs324420) was determined from blood samples, and mood, cognition, withdrawal symptoms, and craving were assessed. In a sample of 14 participants (N = 17 prior to attrition) who completed both scans, FAAH binding in whole-brain increased between T1 and T2 (n = 14; %ΔFAAH = 10%; p = 0.003), with the largest change in the ventral striatum (11%, p = 0.026). Increases in FAAH (%ΔFAAH whole-brain) were significantly associated with longer cannabis abstinence, greater baseline depression severity, and tendency to act without thinking (p < 0.001). Short-term cannabis abstinence is associated with increases in brain FAAH levels. These changes are linked to traits and symptoms associated with relapse vulnerability, including negative mood and impulsivity. These preliminary findings suggest that FAAH may play a key role in the neurobiological response to short-term abstinence and could represent a potential target for interventions.

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Publication Details

Journal
Neuropsychopharmacology
Published
2026-05-09
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-026-02438-7
Primary Topic
Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

PET imaging of FAAH in chronic Cannabis users: longitudinal assessment during short-term abstinence

Tina McCluskey, Nadia Boachie, Claudia Poluga, Rachel F. Tyndale et al.
Neuropsychopharmacology
Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
article

PET imaging of FAAH in chronic Cannabis users: longitudinal assessment during short-term abstinence

Tina McCluskey, Nadia Boachie, Claudia Poluga, Rachel F. Tyndale, Isabelle Boileau, Nathan J. Kolla, Jerry J. Warsh, Shahtaj S. Dheda, Maia Zilberman, Cassie Cote, Stefan Kloiber, Lucas Narciso, Marilyn A. Huestis, Tony P. George, Pablo M. Rusjan, Bernard Le Foll
article en

Abstract

C]CURB binding. Participants with CUD were scanned once after overnight abstinence (T1) and ~3-7 days after monitored last use (T2). FAAH polymorphism (rs324420) was determined from blood samples, and mood, cognition, withdrawal symptoms, and craving were assessed. In a sample of 14 participants (N = 17 prior to attrition) who completed both scans, FAAH binding in whole-brain increased between T1 and T2 (n = 14; %ΔFAAH = 10%; p = 0.003), with the largest change in the ventral striatum (11%, p = 0.026). Increases in FAAH (%ΔFAAH whole-brain) were significantly associated with longer cannabis abstinence, greater baseline depression severity, and tendency to act without thinking (p < 0.001). Short-term cannabis abstinence is associated with increases in brain FAAH levels. These changes are linked to traits and symptoms associated with relapse vulnerability, including negative mood and impulsivity. These preliminary findings suggest that FAAH may play a key role in the neurobiological response to short-term abstinence and could represent a potential target for interventions.

Neuropsychopharmacology
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CA), Thomas Jefferson University (US), Douglas College (CA), University of Toronto (CA), Douglas Mental Health University Institute (CA), Campo Arqueologico de Mertola (PT), Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care (CA), McGill University (CA), Swinburne University of Technology (AU)
Canada Research Chairs
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 7%
Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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