Study – Long Term Marijuana use Toxic to the Brain
Recent studies show that marijuana may cause psychosis, increase the risk of heart disease, and provoke heart attack. Researchers now tell us that marijuana may be toxic to the brain, especially the left hippocampus. The hippocampus is responsible for short-term memory, spatial navigation, and the left hippocampus plays a large role in language dominance. The study is published online in the June issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, led by Murat Yücel, PhD
Changes in the brain were seen by way of MRI in fifteen heavy marijuana users. All were found to have reductions in hippocampal volume. The participants were male, smoked for more than 10 years without using other drugs, and reportedly smoked more than five joints daily. The study is reportedly the first to measure the long-term effects of marijuana on humans. It’s not completely understood whether the change in brain volume comes from loss of neurons, which make up half of the central nervous system, or glial cells, which comprise the other half. Other possibilities include smaller cells, or alternatively, decreased synapse density - tiny cells that transmit information across neurons. Additionally, “the left hippocampus may be particularly vulnerable to the effects of cannabis exposure and may be more closely related to the emergence of psychotic symptoms”.
Another finding included a 7.1% reduction of the smoker’s amygdala, the portion of the brain that lies close to the hippocampus and affects emotions, arousal, hormonal secretions and fear response.
Further research is planned to measure “the degree and mechanisms of long term cannabis-related harm and the time course of neuronal recovery after abstinence.”
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Posted by Kathleen, RN
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Bogus Junk Science funded by the NIDA. Look up Dr. Guzman Cannabis THC Shrinks and destroys brain cancers (gliomas). While not damaging the surrounding brain tissue. If pure THC won’t damage brain tissue, the Harvard University’s well construct peer reviewed research must be right. That cannabis does not destroy or damage brain tissue. So much for this old, disproven junk science from our governemnt. It’s amazing how the NIDA always produces instant response research to counter positive cannabis research findings. Harvard proved cause and effect. This disproven propaganda hit piece does not. Also, do you know anyone who smoked 5 joints per day for 5 years? Common NIDA, you guy’s are always so desperate. You can’t accept the fact that you’ve already lost the war against cannabis. Your mythical test subjects in no way represent the common cannabis user. Also, who can afford this much cannabis for so long? It’s a sad sign of the times that even after Government tripe is disproven. The press will pick up and run old hype, with no counter-points. Just to attract readers.
Even if it were true (probably isn’t), I don’t know what to believe anymore. First I was told it made you into a crazy, drug addict, killing people. I tried it and nothing happened. Also, why aren’t there any link to sources listed? Seems to me like more propaganda from an amateur publisher.
5 joints a day????? that’s like doing an alcoholism study and saying:
“In test subjects that consumed 3 gallons of whiskey daily”