Marijuana: science reveals its long-term effects on the brain

This "soft drug" may not be as dangerous as other substances, but it is not harmless.

The consumption of marijuana is a widespread practice nowadays.being one of the most widely consumed drugs.

Although socially has been seen as a soft drug comparable to alcohol and with relatively little risk in its use. and with relatively little risk in its use (in fact it has interesting properties that make it very useful at a medicinal level in different diseases and disorders), the frequent use of this drug can have relevant negative effects in the long term, especially in relation to the brain and its structure.

Of course, that does not mean that it is a very dangerous drug, for example, comparable comparable, for example, to heroin. However, the defense that has been made about the supposedly harmless nature of its use is hardly tenable today, as we shall see.

What is marijuana?

Marijuana is one of the multiple forms in which cannabis is consumedspecifically the one that uses leaves and stems of the plant chopped and crushed. This substance has psychoactive properties that have been known since ancient times, having been used medicinally and recreationally since then by different peoples. Nowadays, its consumption is widely spread worldwide, especially for recreational and recreational purposes, and it is even legalized in some places under certain conditions.

It is a substance whose initial effects are mildly stimulating and euphoric, to go on to induce states of physical and mental relaxation. It causes a decrease in the level of tension and pain, increases the sensation of hunger and reduces and slows motor movement. It is also effective as an antiemetic and anticonvulsant.

The effects of this product are well known in the short term. However, there is more discussion regarding the long-term effects of marijuana, with often conflicting resultsThe results are often contradictory depending on the type of study conducted. Despite this, the evidence now suggests that regular use of marijuana causes the health of the brain to wear down more than it should over time.

Long-term effects of marijuana

While cannabis, especially in its marijuana form, is a widely known substance, studies regarding its effects have always been surrounded by controversy. A great deal of research has been done, in some cases with unclear results, on the outcomes of its use. However, different research has shown that its consumption can cause long-term effects on the brain and behavior.

It is important to keep in mind that we are talking about cases in which consumption takes place frequently over time. The effects in question depend on the age and neurodevelopmental stage at which consumption begins, as well as the time during which the drug is taken.The effects in question depend on the age and neurodevelopmental stage at which consumption begins, as well as the length of time over which consumption has occurred.

1. Reduction of the orbitofrontal cortex

One of the results that research has shown is that the continued use of marijuana causes an evident reduction of the gray matter, the orbitofrontal cortex. a clear reduction of the gray matter, especially in the orbitofrontal cortex.. This also implies a long-term reduction in the ability to perform tasks that depend on this area, such as impulse control or planning.

2. Increases neuronal connectivity

In spite of the above, many regular users of this substance show apparently normal behavior after many years of marijuana use. The reason for this is that, according to other studies, despite the reduction of gray matter in the brain, the connectivity between the remaining neurons is increased, the connectivity between the remaining neurons is increased.The reason for this is that, according to other studies, despite the reduction of gray matter in the brain, the connectivity between the remaining neurons is increased, so that this loss is somewhat compensated.

That is to say, although in normal conditions an increase in the connectivity of neurons would be good news, in this case is the result of the death of many neurons, so that those that remainThis is a mechanism of the brain to try to make up for the loss of thickness of the cortex. Moreover, this increase in the number of connections is less and less as the time of consumption increases.

3. Decreased performance and memory capacity

Different studies show that regular cannabis consumption can eventually produce a decrease in the intellectual capacity of the subjects, with lower performance and results in different tests than in comparison with a non-consumer individual. However, in this type of cognitive skills, many contradictory results have been found, which means that this phenomenon may not be very significant.

However, there is strong evidence that marijuana use produces long-term problems in various types of cognitive skills. produces long-term problems in various types of memory.. For example, these alterations result in a greater difficulty in passing to long-term memory the contents of short-term memory.

It is important to note that these effects are especially noticeable in people who consume during their development process, i.e. adolescents, due to the structural modification of the brain that the consumption of cannabis may entail. In already formed adults who begin to consume this diminution is smaller.

4. Does it promote hippocampal neurogenesis?

One of the most publicized positive effects of cannabis is its ability to promote the formation of new neurons in the hippocampus. the formation of new neurons in the hippocampusthe region of the brain involved in the processing of memories. In fact, one of the medicinal applications of cannabis takes advantage of this factor and the fact that it makes it possible to reduce the formation of beta-amyloid protein in order to contribute to the fight against certain disorders that cause progressive degeneration of the hippocampus.

However, this has recently been found to occur in laboratory rats used for experiments, but not in humans: in our case, the birth of new hippocampal neurons is practically non-existent in adults. in adults.

5. It can produce psychotic outbreaks

Although it does not happen in all the cases, some variants of cannabis can facilitate the appearance of psychotic outbreaks in people with genetic predisposition to them, especially when the consumption begins in adolescence. This is because early use hinders the correct neuronal maturation of the connection between the prefrontal and limbic systems, which facilitates the appearance of hallucinations and makes behavioral control and inhibition difficult. In some cases it can potentiate the expression of schizophrenia.

6. Decreased impulse control.

Another of the effects observed and directly linked to the decrease of gray matter in the frontal cortex is decreased impulse control.. The ability to inhibit behavior is linked to specific parts of this lobe, which is responsible for counteracting the power of the limbic system, related to emotions and the emergence of desires.