Episode #108 High Truths on Drugs and Addiction with Dr. David Baranger on Mental Health Burden with Prenatal Cannabis UseEpisode #108 High Truths on Drugs and Addiction with Dr. David Baranger on Mental Health Burden with Prenatal Cannabis Use
High Truths on Drugs and Addiction
A recent publication in JAMA Pediatrics shows that mental health burdens are associated with prenatal cannabis exposure that persists from childhood to early adolescence. These are results from the Longitudinal ABCD (Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development) study. David Baranger, PhD I am a Neuroscientist and Postdoc at Washington University in St. Louis. My primary interest is in understanding how neurodevelopment mediates the effects of genetics and stress on the emergence of psychopathology, particularly substance use and depressive disorders. My research also includes work identifying replicable and reliable neural correlates of psychopathology, as well as work studying factors that influence the measurement of common neuroimaging metrics. As a postdoc I have worked with Dr. Arpana Agrawal, Dr. Anna Manelis, and Dr. Erika Forbes. This work has focused on studying the reliability of neuroimaging measures of reward, identifying novel structural (cortical myelin) correlates of depression, and studying the association of depression with the neurodevelopment of reward function. My current work seeks to understand how genomic risk for substance use and depression influences neurodevelopment and the emergence of psychopathology in developing samples. I completed my PhD in Neuroscience at Washington University in St Louis, where I worked with Dr. Ryan Bogdan and Dr. Deanna Barch. My dissertation was on the use of neural biomarkers to disentangle the causes and downstream consequences of alcohol use. Outside of work you can find me playing with my cats, rock climbing, backpacking, and at indie/electronic shows.
41:51•16 Jan 2023
Prenatal Cannabis Use and Mental Health: Insights from Dr. David Baranger
“We think the associations look like it might be, but I always I'm very cautious when I talk about it because it's really hard to know.”
Picture this: you're expecting a child and considering every possible way to ensure their healthy development. But what if something as seemingly benign as cannabis could pose a long-term risk? In this episode of 'High Truths on Drugs and Addiction', Dr. Roneet Lev is joined by Dr. David Baranger, a neuroscientist and postdoctoral researcher at Washington University in St. Louis, to discuss the findings from the Longitudinal ABCD study published in JAMA Pediatrics.
This study reveals a troubling link between prenatal cannabis exposure and mental health issues that can persist from childhood into early adolescence. Dr. Baranger delves into how neurodevelopment mediates the effects of genetics and stress on mental health, particularly focusing on substance use and depressive disorders. He also sheds light on the challenges of interpreting these findings due to various confounding factors and methodological limitations. Despite these complexities, both Dr. Lev and Dr.
Baranger emphasize the importance of avoiding cannabis use during pregnancy and exploring safer alternatives for managing symptoms like nausea. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the latest research on prenatal health, mental health, and addiction prevention.
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