Cannabis harms the brain - but that's not the full story

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edgarshade

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Health Canal

10/12/2011 02:59:00

For the first time, scientists have proven that cannabis harms the brain. But the same study challenges previously-held assumptions about use of the drug, showing that some brain irregularities predate drug use.

Professor Dan Lubman, from Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre and Monash University, along with a team of researchers from Melbourne University have conducted a world-first study examining whether these brain abnormalities represent markers of vulnerability to cannabis use.
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“What we found is that only the OFC predicted later cannabis use, suggesting that this particular part of the frontal lobe increases an adolescent’s vulnerability to cannabis use. However, we also found no differences in brain volume in other parts of the brain that we have shown to be abnormal in long-term heavy cannabis users, confirming for the first time, that cannabis use is neurotoxic to these brain areas in humans.”
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More...
http://www.healthcanal.com/substanc...the-brain---but-thats-not-the-full-story.html
 
Changes in brain region volumes don't necessarily result from neurotoxicity though, it could be adaptation caused by other things. This article mentions that learning to drive a taxi in London decreased the size of the frontal hippocampus while increasing the size of the posterior portion.

"This is very interesting because we now see there can be structural changes in healthy human brains."
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I think it just changes the way we think, and how deep we think about things sometimes, So yeah it makes our brains work Differently but it dont mean its going to turn you into an idiot!

Also this article shows about the Young Ages of these people tested?

I didnt start using it until i was 20,
I wouldnt reccomend anyone using drugs when they are growing up still because of the fact that the hormonal changes and whatnot else to worry about is enough for a kid to care about,

I mean, 12 - 16 years of age???

At that age i was exploring ww2 forts with my friends, learning how to make stuff, into archery, some photography of these forts, airsofting, lockpicking (No Unlawful use of, just a hobby) , lots of interests. I had a very bad childhood but i did not touch mind altering substances until i was 19, but id been drunk about 4 times and its not like i even live in a very nice area either.

Im not putting anyone down for using drugs before they are adults but im just saying it could add more stress/ problems than if they do without, Ive found drugs to be a bit like Pringles. Once you Pop you just cant stop.


Not 100% sure on this But ive seen evidence of the brain not stopping development until 21 but i think that our brains and our perspectives change when we hit adulthood.
 
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The title of the story is "Cannabis harms the brain" but there was not one word in the entire article about any new studies that confirmed this. The entire article discussed how those with structural abnormalities (smaller OFC volumes) were predisposed to starting cannabis at a young age. All they did was provide more evidence for the argument that reduced brain volumes preceded cannabis use.

The title is irrelevant to the article??!!??


Also, since when is brain size proportional to intelligence? I thought we had already established that people with larger brains aren't necessarily smarter?
 
Any cannabis user should notice that it makes them think differently. As many of us understand, adaptation =/= damage (not necessarily)

Edit- Good post skillet
 
I started around 12... I'm fucked. Guess I should stop studying medicine due to my massive brain damage.
 
Biovail said:
The title of the story is "Cannabis harms the brain" but there was not one word in the entire article about any new studies that confirmed this. The entire article discussed how those with structural abnormalities (smaller OFC volumes) were predisposed to starting cannabis at a young age. All they did was provide more evidence for the argument that reduced brain volumes preceded cannabis use.

The title is irrelevant to the article??!!??
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Totally. I find it quite amazing that the media is quoting this paper as 'proof that cannabis harms the brain!' when it says nothing of the sort. Finding differences in brain volume that predate use suggests that any similar findings in long-term users could actually be markers of vulnerability, rather than neurotoxicity. And NOT finding differences in any other regions doesn't prove that cannabis is neurotoxic either! All this suggests is that the differences found in other studies may not be due to pre-existing differences, but are the result of either long-term use or some other process.

I wish journalists would actually read articles properly before making up their headlines....
 
skillet said:
Changes in brain region volumes don't necessarily result from neurotoxicity though, it could be adaptation caused by other things. This article mentions that learning to drive a taxi in London decreased the size of the frontal hippocampus while increasing the size of the posterior portion.
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What is metaprogamming?
http://www.leri.org/faq/lf_sec1.html

(Any system can do this...including the internet, not just drugs).
 
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