Analysis of saliva from long-term cannabis smokers identifies disruptions in the healthy oral microbiome that may lead to brain disorders

 

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/937014

 

 News Release 6-Dec-2021
Analysis of saliva from long-term cannabis smokers identifies disruptions in the healthy oral microbiome that may lead to brain disorders
Chronic cannabis use in humans leads to an increase in a specific bacterium, Actinomyces meyeri. Giving mice this bacterium through the mouth led to decreased activity, migration of immune cells to the brain and production of beta-amyloid in the brain
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Medical University of South Carolina

 

More and more states are legalizing marijuana, but little is known about how long-term cannabis use affects the microbes in the oral cavity, known as the oral microbiome. The oral microbiome plays a critical role in maintaining oral health, but changes to the environment in the mouth, such as those caused by smoking, can upset the balance of microbes, making us more susceptible to diseases.

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tags: drug use, drug abuse,