Frequent cannabis consumption in adolescents is associated with anxiety and memory loss, a recent study has found.
Using rodents, researchers identified specific abnormalities in two distinct parts of the hippocampus – the dorsal and ventral regions – following THC exposure. These abnormalities were present in different sets in each region.
These regions of the brain may be responsible for the cognitive and emotional side effects of cannabis use.
Previous studies have also suggested that adolescent cannabis consumption can cause prefrontal cortical thinning in the brain, which increases the risk of developing mental health disorders like psychosis and depression.
New study
Conducted by Western University in Canada, the study was designed to identify new molecular-level information about the brain that could improve our understanding of the risk of developing neuropsychiatric conditions, such as schizophrenia, as a result of prolonged cannabis consumption during adolescence.
Published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, the results showed that frequent cannabis consumption in adolescents is associated with anxiety and memory loss.
The study’s lead author, Dr Elizabeth Osuch, emphasized the need for further research on the potential risks of cannabis use in adolescents as she said:
“It is crucial that we continue to study the effects of cannabis use in this age group as it becomes more widely available and socially accepted.”
Marta De Felice, who also worked on the study, stressed the need to have scientific evidence to inform public health policy, noting that:
“Following the legalisation of cannabis, there is evidence of a reduction in perceived risks associated with cannabis use. There is a need to expand knowledge on the potential negative consequences of cannabis exposure during adolescence and this study addresses some of those gaps.”
It’s also important to note that the study did not establish a direct link between cannabis and anxiety or loss of memory.
However, the results do suggest that cannabis use in adolescents may have negative impacts on mental health and cognitive function in a person’s life further down the line.
Thinning cortex
This study from 2022 used a statistical method called Bayesian causal network (BCN) modelling to examine whether there is a causal relationship between cannabis use and changes in the brain during adolescence.
The study included 637 adolescents who had not used cannabis at age 14. The researchers looked at various factors that could potentially influence brain development, including cannabis use, demographics, mental health, and other substance use.
They found that the BCN algorithms consistently indicated a relationship between cannabis use and thinning of a part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex.
Previous research has associated prefrontal cortex thinning with the development of depression in adolescence.
Conclusion
Overall, there are many studies suggesting that cannabis use during adolescence may have negative effects on brain development.
However, it is important to note that a causal relationship between cannabis use and changes in the brain have not been proven, and further research is needed to confirm these findings.
If you are under 25, as your brain is still developing, it would be wise to avoid frequent use of high-THC cannabis – especially smoking it.
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