While legalized marijuana use has increased dramatically over the past decade, definitive answers about marijuana’s effect on the teen brain are lacking. One developmental neuroscientist is being recruited to deliver public talks to educate parents, educators, law enforcement, and teenagers about the dangers of marijuana and alcohol use. While marijuana and alcohol consumption have different impacts on the brain, most researchers stress the dangers of excessive marijuana use.
In a recent study from the University of Montreal, researchers observed 3,826 high school students over four years. Participants were interviewed about their use of cannabis, as well as taken computerized tests designed to assess cognitive functioning. Overall, the results showed that marijuana had greater impact on teens’ brains than alcohol. Researchers concluded that marijuana use was associated with more cognitive problems and long-term effects. However, it is too early to draw any definitive conclusions about the effects of marijuana on the brain.
The study also examined the effects of marijuana on four cognitive functions. Cannabis had a negative impact on each, while alcohol had no significant effect. The impact of alcohol may be greater as a teen grows older, as they tend to drink more. To determine if marijuana is more harmful to teens, researchers analyzed the brain activity of nearly 4,000 teens in the Montreal area. The students self-reported their cannabis and alcohol use, and the researchers did not publish their results unless the students were at risk of harm.
In a new study of high school students, researchers found that cannabis use reduced adolescent working memory, perceptual reasoning, and inhibitory control, while alcohol-using teens showed increased BOLD activity in the same regions. Interestingly, these findings were observed in high school students regardless of whether or not they had used alcohol before. They concluded that marijuana may have a detrimental impact on the developing brain.
Research has also suggested that the prefrontal cortex in the brain is uniquely vulnerable to marijuana, which may explain why some adolescents develop addiction earlier. Although the exact mechanisms are not yet known, marijuana discover more here exposure is thought to be a risk factor for young people with a genetic predisposition to addiction. It affects the activity of neurons and releases GABA, a neurotransmitter that regulates other types of neurons.
A new study from the University of Colorado-Boulder concluded that alcohol is worse for a teen’s brain than marijuana. It looked at the brains of 850 adults and 430 teenagers. Researchers found that alcohol decreased the amount of white and grey matter in a teen’s brain, which are two essential brain tissues. Alcohol also decreased the volume of the white matter, which affects brain function. However, smoking marijuana did not produce the same reductions.
A number of studies have shown a link between heavy marijuana use and psychotic symptoms in adolescence. The researchers found that heavy marijuana users are more likely to develop these symptoms, especially if they are able to consume more than one gram a day. Interestingly, marijuana may also be a precursor to depression, with early use of cannabis being linked to higher rates of depression.
While many marijuana users defend their use by saying that marijuana is not addictive, it can actually cause a teen to feel ill if they suddenly stop using it. In fact, marijuana withdrawal syndrome is a real disorder, listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). It causes serious psychological reactions to regular marijuana users. It is especially common among users with a history of depression.
Studies of cannabis users indicate that persistent cannabis use is associated with reduced cognitive abilities. Chronic cannabis users also demonstrate decreased performance on tests assessing attention, memory, and learning. Furthermore, the number of days a teen has used cannabis was associated with increased risk of hyperemesis and poor executive functioning. Further, the researchers noted that prolonged marijuana use may lead to a reduction in IQ, which is associated with more severe conditions.
Recent studies have shown that heavy marijuana users have altered brain structure, neurocognitive function, and macrostructural development. Heavy marijuana users also have a higher risk of developing depression and anxiety, which may be pre-existing. high cbd seeds Further studies are needed to disencumber pre-existing effects from the effect of marijuana use on the brain. This research may also help us better understand the interaction between cannabis and other common abused substances.