Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41826780›Full record

ArticleMolecular neurobiology2026

NfL and GFAP quantification and associations with mental health in recreational cannabis users-Results from the Swiss study on recreational cannabis access via pharmacies.

Maximilian Meyer, C Felix Mosandl, Adrian Guessoum, Oliver Herrmann, Lavinia Baltes-Flückiger, Eva-Maria Pichler, Amar Zadic, Aleksandra Maleska Maceski, Juan Francisco Vilchez Gomez, Kenneth M Dürsteler and 6 more

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Molecular neurobiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Maximilian MeyerUniversity of Basel Psychiatric Clinics, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. maximilian.meyer@upk.ch.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1183-1195
C Felix MosandlUniversity of Basel Psychiatric Clinics, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Adrian GuessoumUniversity of Basel Psychiatric Clinics, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Oliver HerrmannUniversity of Basel Psychiatric Clinics, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Lavinia Baltes-FlückigerPsychiatric Services Aargau, Windisch, Switzerland.
Eva-Maria PichlerPsychiatric Services Aargau, Windisch, Switzerland.
Amar ZadicMultiple Sclerosis Centre and Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience (RC2NB), Departments of Clinical Research, Neurology and Biomedicine, University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-5775-9508
Aleksandra Maleska MaceskiMultiple Sclerosis Centre and Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience (RC2NB), Departments of Clinical Research, Neurology and Biomedicine, University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1916-5927
Juan Francisco Vilchez GomezMultiple Sclerosis Centre and Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience (RC2NB), Departments of Clinical Research, Neurology and Biomedicine, University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Kenneth M DürstelerUniversity of Basel Psychiatric Clinics, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Felix MüllerUniversity of Basel Psychiatric Clinics, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4582-6610
Undine E LangUniversity of Basel Psychiatric Clinics, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3585-6533
Pascal BenkertMultiple Sclerosis Centre and Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience (RC2NB), Departments of Clinical Research, Neurology and Biomedicine, University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6525-8174
Jens KuhleMultiple Sclerosis Centre and Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience (RC2NB), Departments of Clinical Research, Neurology and Biomedicine, University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6963-8892
Marc WalterPsychiatric Services Aargau, Windisch, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3088-0331
Marc VogelUniversity of Basel Psychiatric Clinics, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.

Funding

Canton Basel-Stadt, Switzerland Nr. 21/30/19; P211352
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Neurofilament light chain (NfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) are biomarkers for neuroaxonal damage and astroglial injury, respectively. The present study aimed to quantify NfL and GFAP as well as investigate their association with psychiatric symptoms in a sample of recreational cannabis users. Blood samples from 331 individuals with regular recreational cannabis use were collected. Serum NfL (sNfL) and GFAP (sGFAP) levels were quantified in duplicate by an ultrasensitive single-molecule array (Simoa) technology. Reference populations were used to calculate age-, BMI-, and (for GFAP) sex-adjusted Z scores. Participants completed validated psychometric instruments assessing symptoms of cannabis use disorder, alcohol use disorder, psychosis, depression, and anxiety. Mean GFAP levels were significantly lower than those in the reference population (t(330) = -6.718, p < 0.001), whereas NfL levels did not differ (t(330) = 1.3, p = 0.19). Participants with hazardous cannabis use and those screening positive for psychotic symptoms showed higher NfL levels. Psychotic symptoms were additionally associated with lower GFAP levels. NfL correlated positively with total Cannabis Use Disorder Identification Test-Revised (CUDIT-R) scores (ρ(329) = 0.12, p = 0.03) and specifically with the items "memory/concentration problems" (ρ(329) = 0.11, p = 0.04) and "time spent buying/using/recovering" (ρ(329) = 0.13, p = 0.02). In multiple regression analysis, psychotic and cannabis use disorder symptoms independently predicted higher NfL levels. No variables predicted GFAP levels. There was no association between self-reported cannabis use amount or frequency in the past 30 days and GFAP or NfL. The results provide preliminary evidence of cannabis-related neuroaxonal alterations, warranting longitudinal studies to clarify the temporal relationship between these biomarkers and cannabis use.

Indexed as

CannabisGlial Fibrillary Acidic ProteinMental HealthNeurofilament ProteinsAdultBiomarkersFemaleHumansMaleMarijuana AbuseSwitzerlandYoung AdultBiomarkersGFAP protein, humanGlial Fibrillary Acidic Proteinneurofilament protein LNeurofilament ProteinsCannabisGFAPGlial fibrillary acidic proteinNeuroaxonal damageNeurofilament light chainNfL

Identifiers

PMID41826780

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.