Potardation

[JoS Forum Contributions]

Marijuana Use Predicts Cognitive Performance on Tasks of Executive Function.

Dahlgren MK1,2, Sagar KA1, Racine MT1, Dreman MW1, Gruber SA1,3.


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26997188
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Despite growing evidence that chronic marijuana use is associated with cognitive impairment, particularly when use is initiated at an early age, national trends demonstrate significant decreases in the perceived risk of marijuana corresponding with increased use, especially among youth. The current study assessed the impact of marijuana use on executive function and whether patterns of marijuana use, including earlier age at onset, higher frequency, and increased magnitude of use, predict impairment.

METHOD:

Forty-four chronic, heavy marijuana smokers (37 male, 7 female) and 32 healthy, nonsmoking control participants (20 male, 12 female) recruited from the Greater Boston area completed two assessments of executive function: the Stroop Color Word Test and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST).

RESULTS:

Marijuana smokers had poorer executive function relative to control participants, a between-group difference that was primarily driven by individuals with early onset of marijuana use (before age 16; n = 21); significance remained even when controlling for frequency and magnitude of use. Further, earlier age at marijuana onset and increased marijuana use predicted poorer neurocognitive performance, and perseverative errors on the WCST significantly predicted marijuana group membership.

CONCLUSIONS:

These findings underscore the impact of early onset of marijuana use on executive function impairment independent of increased frequency and magnitude of use. In addition, poorer performance on the WCST may serve as a neuropsychological marker for heavy marijuana users. These results highlight the need for additional research to identify predictors associated with early marijuana use, as exposure to marijuana during a period of developmental vulnerability may result in negative cognitive consequences.


Worth the wait: effects of age of onset of marijuana use on white matter and impulsivity.

Gruber SA1, Dahlgren MK, Sagar KA, Gönenç A, Lukas SE.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24190588

Author information



Abstract

RATIONALE:

Marijuana (MJ) use continues to rise, and as the perceived risk of using MJ approaches an all-time historic low, initiation of MJ use is occurring at even younger ages. As adolescence is a critical period of neuromaturation, teens and emerging adults are at greater risk for experiencing the negative effects of MJ on the brain. In particular, MJ use has been shown to be associated with alterations in frontal white matter microstructure, which may be related to reports of increased levels of impulsivity in this population.

OBJECTIVES:

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between age of onset of MJ use, white matter microstructure, and reported impulsivity in chronic, heavy MJ smokers.

METHODS:

Twenty-five MJ smokers and 18 healthy controls underwent diffusion tensor imaging and completed the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale. MJ smokers were also divided into early onset (regular use prior to age 16) and late onset (age 16 or later) groups in order to clarify the impact of age of onset of MJ use on these variables.

RESULTS:

MJ smokers exhibited significantly reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) relative to controls, as well as higher levels of impulsivity. Earlier MJ onset was also associated with lower levels of FA. Interestingly, within the early onset group, higher impulsivity scores were correlated with lower FA, a relationship that was not observed in the late onset smokers.

CONCLUSIONS:

MJ use is associated with white matter development and reported impulsivity, particularly in early onset smokers

 

[LightMangoMango]

Hello, I can't give scientific, but personal answer here. In Germany, many ppl who were born in the 90s or later, listen to german rap music. 99,9% of the widely known rap artists promote heavy,drugs use, especially, weed. Weed is even considered not to be a real drug (!?) by them, and just a normal thing to smoke it all day. These “artists“ are being heavily promoted by the hip hiphop journalism and other medial influences, while the artists, who produce texts which contain a real message are just being ignored.
In the past I was what you can call a weed addict, for some month, and I don't recommend the heavy use for anyone, I find myself be very vurlnerable to certain addictions, where you escape really, and if anyone is this kind of person, never do something like weed. The Thc percentage have risen so drastically in the last years, its just such a super lucky feeling in your mind, for me it was too good so I did it more and more often because your brain doesn't respond to the same dosage each time you do it. The worst thing was also the anxiety that comes up because every second the police can come up and destroy your life, this fear makes you smoke even more. Im now left it behind and knew when I do it again all my meditation progress won't continue because I can't organize myself to do much more than going to the fridge.
As Im writing this I am so happy that I am past this kind of life...

Oh and what I like to addI think its also strategy to promote the weed for us “goyim“ and on the other hand making it illegal for anxiety.

Ok I don't know if this was worth writing I submit it anyways,

Thank you for reading