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Readable research linked to original sources
Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
Loading articles data…
Readable research linked to original sources
Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
13 articles
Newest firstCannabis use is widespread, with genetic differences partly explaining variation in individual patterns of use. We performed the largest-to-date genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis of cannabis ever-use (N=736,322, 76% European ancestry) and various measures of frequency of use (N=269,160 cannabis users, 84% European ancestry). We identified 54 independent genome-wide significant loci for ever-use an…
Open article record in new tab ↗Poorer performance in tasks testing executive function (EF) is associated with a range of psychopathologies such as schizophrenia, major depressive disorder (MDD) and anxiety, as well as smoking and alcohol consumption. We used two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization to examine whether these may reflect causal relationships and the direction of causation. We used genome-wide association study summary data…
Open article record in new tab ↗BackgroundExecutive function consists of several cognitive control processes that are able to regulate lower level processes. Poorer performance in tasks designed to test executive function is associated with a range of psychopathologies such as schizophrenia, major depressive disorder (MDD) and anxiety, as well as with smoking and alcohol consumption. Despite these well-documented associations, whether they refle…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background Although studies have examined the association between tobacco and cannabis use in adolescence with subsequent cognitive functioning, study designs are usually not able to distinguish correlation from causation. Methods Separate patterns of tobacco and cannabis use were derived using longitudinal latent class analysis based on measures assessed on five occasions from age 13-18 in a large UK population c…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background and aims Initial use of drugs such as tobacco and alcohol may lead to subsequent more problematic drug use-the 'gateway' hypothesis. However, observed associations may be due to a shared underlying risk factor, such as trait impulsivity. We used bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) to test the gateway hypothesis. Design Our main method was inverse-variance weighted (IVW) MR, with other methods inc…
Open article record in new tab ↗BACKGROUND: Poor mental health has consistently been associated with substance use (smoking, alcohol drinking, cannabis use, and consumption of caffeinated drinks). To properly inform public health policy it is crucial to understand the mechanisms underlying these associations, and most importantly, whether or not they are causal. METHODS: In this pre-registered systematic review, we assessed the evidence for caus…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background and AimsInitial use of drugs such as tobacco and alcohol may lead to subsequent more problematic drug use - the gateway hypothesis. However, observed associations may be due to a shared underlying risk factor, such as trait impulsivity. We used bidirectional Mendelian Randomisation (MR) to test the gateway hypothesis. DesignOur main method was inverse-variance weighted (IVW) MR, with other methods inclu…
Open article record in new tab ↗BackgroundAlthough studies have examined the association between tobacco and cannabis use in adolescence with subsequent cognitive functioning, study designs are usually not able to distinguish correlation from causation. MethodsSeparate patterns of tobacco and cannabis use were derived using longitudinal latent class analysis based on measures assessed on five occasions from age 13 to 18 in a large UK population…
Open article record in new tab ↗Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has consistently been associated with substance use, but the nature of this association is not fully understood. To inform intervention development and public health messages, a vital question is whether there are causal pathways from ADHD to substance use and/or vice versa. We applied bidirectional Mendelian randomization, using summary-level data from the largest a…
Open article record in new tab ↗Substance use is associated with impaired social cognition. Experimental studies have shown that acute intoxication of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis decreases the performance in non-verbal, social communication and theory of mind tasks. However, in epidemiological studies the temporal direction of this association has gone relatively unstudied. We investigated both directions of association within an adolescent b…
Open article record in new tab ↗AbstractAimsTo investigate the relationship between cannabis and tobacco use by age 15 and subsequent educational outcomes.DesignBirth cohort study.SettingEngland.ParticipantsThe sample was drawn from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children; a core sample of 1155 individuals had complete information on all the variables.MeasurementsThe main exposures were cannabis and tobacco use at age 15 assessed in…
Open article record in new tab ↗IntroductionSubstance use is associated with common mental health disorders, but the causal effect of specific substances is uncertain. We investigate whether adolescent cannabis and cigarette use is associated with incident depression and anxiety, while attempting to account for confounding and reverse causation.MethodsWe used data from ALSPAC, a UK birth cohort study, to investigate associations between cannabis…
Open article record in new tab ↗Aims: Teenagers in the UK report some of the highest rates of alcohol use in Europe. We identify patterns of alcohol use in early adolescence and relate these to hazardous and harmful alcohol use at age 16. Methods: In a UK birth cohort, we analysed repeated measures of alcohol use from age 13 to 15 in a sample of 7100 adolescents. Data on drinking frequency and typical consumption when drinking were modelled sepa…
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