Adolescents with Signs of Depression Show Alterations in the Endocannabinoid System, Study Indicates
Scientific work suggests that the imbalance of the endocannabinoid system may be associated with depression in adolescence
Adolescence is a period marked by rapid changes in the brain and behavior. A recent study, titled “Altered Plasma Endocannabinoids and Oxylipins in Adolescents with Major Depressive Disorders: A Case-Control Study”, published in the journal Nutrients, suggests that there are associations between concentrations of substances linked to the endocannabinoid system and depressive symptoms in youth, opening new perspectives for understanding the biological factors involved in depression during this age group.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 1 in 7 people worldwide lives with a mental disorder, and depression is one of the most prevalent, affecting around 280 million people in 2019, including children and adolescents.
The organization highlights that mental disorders can cause significant impairments in daily activities and have a relevant global impact.
Endocannabinoid System in Focus
The endocannabinoid system is an important biological regulator present in the brain and other parts of the body. Researchers are exploring its role in modulating stress and emotional response, factors directly involved in mood disorders.
Another study, titled “Relationship between circulating plasma endocannabinoids in adolescents and maternal depressive symptoms”, published in the journal Psychopharmacology (Berlin) on June 18, 2025, investigated the relationship between circulating concentrations of endocannabinoids and depressive symptoms in adolescents and their mothers.
The research included 77 youths with an average age of 13.36 years and their mothers and analyzed not only the plasma levels of the main endocannabinoids anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) - anandamide (AEA) is more closely linked to mood regulation and emotional well-being, while 2-AG acts more broadly in modulating the nervous and immune systems.
Findings from the Adolescent Study
Additionally, researchers identified symptoms of depression in adolescents and mothers through standardized psychometric instruments, which allowed for the exploration of biological and familial associations related to mental health in adolescence. The levels of the endocannabinoids anandamide (AEA) and 2-AG were also measured in plasma samples from the youths.
The main finding was that higher concentrations of anandamide were associated with indicators of familial susceptibility to depression, even when depressive symptoms were considered subclinical. There was no significant association between the depressive symptoms of adolescents and the concentrations of 2-AG.
Implications for Adolescent Mental Health
According to the authors, this association between AEA and depressive symptoms may indicate that alterations in the endocannabinoid system are related to risk factors for depression in youth. Although the research does not determine causality, the data suggest that endocannabinoid biomarkers may contribute to understanding how depression manifests during this stage of life, especially in familial contexts.
Mental health experts emphasize that depression in adolescence is multifactorial, involving genetic, environmental, and neurobiological factors. The WHO stresses that mental disorders in youth can cause significant impairments if not identified and treated appropriately.
Global Context of Mental Disorders
According to the WHO website, mental disorders encompass a wide range of conditions, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. The organization emphasizes that many people do not have access to effective treatments and that the treatment gap remains a global public health challenge.