Regular Cannabis Consumption Impairs Short-Term Memory Function
Cannabis Consumption: According to the lead researcher of a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, when you’re having a conversation with your boss, you need to remember what they said in order to respond appropriately. Losing working memory means it becomes more challenging to retain this information.
Cannabis Consumption, A new study published on Tuesday in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) shows that frequent Cannabis use harms the brain’s working memory and disrupts safety, communication, and job performance.
Joshua Gowin, an assistant professor of radiology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and the lead author of the study, explains: “Working memory is the ability to hold and use short-term information.” He gives the example of blind spots when driving. “When you look ahead, you need to remember what you saw in the blind spot to decide whether to change lanes.”
Regular Cannabis Consumption Impairs Short-Term Memory
Cannabis Consumption, He adds that when talking to your boss, you need to remember their words to respond effectively. Losing working memory means retaining such information becomes more effortful and challenging.
Carol J. Boyd, a retired professor and founder of the Center for Drug, Alcohol, Tobacco, and Health Studies at the University of Michigan, who was not involved in this study, says: “For years, doctors, friends, and family members of regular Cannabis users have noticed that ‘their memory isn’t working well.’ They forget shopping lists, forget recipes, and can’t seem to pull themselves together.” She notes that this study does not show whether working memory improves for someone who quits Cannabis use after a long period. Boyd questions: “If a teenager smokes Cannabis more than a thousand times between the ages of 15 and 20 and quits at 20, will they have better working memory 10 years later?”
Cannabis Consumption, Researchers in this study used data from the “Human Connectome Project,” which collects raw data from studies examining the effects of age, disease, and other factors on the brain. By analyzing the largest dataset ever used in a Cannabis and brain performance study, they examined brain scans of over 1,000 current and former Cannabis users. These individuals underwent seven cognitive tests between 2012 and 2015. These tests measured working memory, how emotions and rewards affect thinking, and how the brain reacts to language. Researchers also studied brain performance in motor skills and how individuals react to others in a social setting.
Cannabis Consumption
Cannabis Consumption, The researchers tested participants’ urine samples, aged between 22 and 36, to see if they had recently used Cannabis. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the compound responsible for the high from Cannabis use, stays in the body for up to two weeks in non-regular users and longer in regular users.
A heavy user is defined as someone who has used Cannabis more than 1,000 times in their life, while a moderate user has used it between 10 and 999 times. Those who have used marijuana fewer than 10 times are not considered users.
Cannabis Consumption, The researchers found that Cannabis use reduces the activity of brain areas responsible for decision-making, memory, attention, and emotional processing. According to their results, 63% of heavy users experienced decreased working memory ability and brain activity, and 68% of those with recent positive tests for Cannabis use had similar consequences. However, the impact on heavy users was greater than for those who had recently used Cannabis.
Most of the heavy Cannabis users in this study were male, had lower educational, economic, and social status, and were more likely to use alcohol and cigarettes.
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