Studies have already pointed to the adverse effects of cannabis on various cognitive abilities among adolescents. Now, new research could shed light on the manner in which this damage is done and its long-term physical manifestations.
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A comprehensive study recently published in the scientific peer-reviewed journal JAMA Psychiatry, which examined the effects of cannabis (marijuana) on adolescents' neurodevelopment, indicates a possible link between the drug and changes to the thickness of the cerebral cortex, causing it to become too thin or to erode.
The study tested 1,598 MRI brain scans from 799 human subjects, with the aim of examining the impact of cannabis consumption on the development of the cerebral cortex. The study was a continuation of earlier testing on animals, which showed that a developing brain is sensitive to the effects of cannabis on receptors in the brain.
Complementary research conducted over a five-year period, as stated, presented concerning indications. The bottom line, the researchers said, is that cannabis use among adolescents could correlate to neurological developmental changes.
Dozens of researchers from numerous countries contributed to the study.
In the United States, more than one-third of 12th graders consume cannabis, and 78% of those who experiment with the drug for the first time are between the ages of 12-20.
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