The impact of cannabis on the brain and behavior has concluded negative effects to its prolonged use. A study suggests that long-term marijuana use is linked to poor vocabulary skills upon middle age.
Researchers followed 35,000 people and about 85 percent of participants reported the use of cannabis at one point in their lives. Furthermore, one in ten of the participants said they continued to use the drug into middle age.
The participants took a series of tests to assess cognitive abilities, which include verbal memory, focus and their ability to make quick decisions. The pace at which people take in information and respond, as well as executive functions, were also measured.
The study focused on participants who had regular use of cannabis for up to 25 years. Focus was also given to participants with repeated exposure to cannabis during early adulthood.
Published online by JAMA Internal Medicine, the study found out that long-term past exposure to cannabis was associated to worse verbal memory. The participants could not remember some words compared to those who used cannabis less or stopped, according to Doctor Reto Auer of the University of Lausanne in Switzerland.
The study concluded that for every five years of exposure in the past, half of the participants could remember one word fewer based on a list of 15 words. The use of cannabis, however, did not seem to affect other cognitive functions of the brain.
Researchers of the study also mention that it is unclear whether there are long-term of effects of marijuana based on low-intensity or occasional use early on in life, according to Daily Mail. Further studies such as multiple assessments of cognition and brain imaging are needed to have a clearer image of marijuana's potential clinical and public health implications.
With the changes in legislation and the potential increase in marijuana use in the United States, many researchers are warning potential users about its possible harm. In the U.S., four states have approved recreational marijuana while 23 states have allowed marijuana use, as reported by Oregon Live.
According to Dr. Michael Lynskey of Kings College London, more should be done to warn young individuals about the risks of long-term daily use of marijuana. Unfortunately, many young individuals have remained skeptical about the health effects of the drug.
