logo
Psychiatrist reveals what marijuana does to the developing brain

Psychiatrist reveals what marijuana does to the developing brain

New York Post6 days ago
The recreational use of marijuana has become more common in recent years.
But some research has found that consuming cannabis could have negative effects on the body, especially the brain.
A recent French study suggested that cannabis use raises the risk of heart attack and stroke more than cocaine, while a Canadian study found that dementia risk is connected to cannabis-related hospital visits in older individuals.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Dr. Daniel Amen — psychiatrist, brain imaging specialist and founder of Amen Clinics in California — confirmed that it's 'clear' people who use marijuana have lower blood flow in their brain, according to decades of brain imaging performed at his clinics.
These findings — along with associations between marijuana and heart disease — have been supported by other recent research.
5 Research shows that consuming cannabis could have negative effects on the body, like the brain.
alfa27 – stock.adobe.com
5 According to Dr. Daniel Amen, people who use marijuana have lower blood flow in their brain.
Africa Studio – stock.adobe.com
'We've been lied to that marijuana is innocuous, that marijuana is good medicine,' Amen said. 'And I think for some people, it can be helpful. But teenagers who use it, or people in their 20s, have a higher incidence of anxiety, depression, suicide and psychosis.'
In a new study that compared people who smoked cigarettes with those who smoked marijuana, the marijuana users sustained more lung damage, he mentioned.
'This is just not great for us,' Amen said.
5 'We've been lied to that marijuana is innocuous, that marijuana is good medicine,' Amen said. 'But teenagers who use it, or people in their 20s, have a higher incidence of anxiety, depression, suicide and psychosis.'
amenic181 – stock.adobe.com
5 There are also associations between marijuana and heart disease.
Victor Moussa – stock.adobe.com
Amen noted one of the 'horrifying trends' he's seen is parents who smoke pot with their teens and young adults.
'It just makes me think we're going the wrong way,' he said.
5 Amen advises against parents smoking with their teens, as young adult brains are not fully developed, and engaging in cannabis can set them back mentally, causing issues like anxiety and depression.
Impact Photography – stock.adobe.com
While some people may argue that alcohol is worse for the body than marijuana, Amen stressed that 'neither of them are good for you.'
'Why would you want to consume something that makes your brain older than you are?' he asked.
As the brain of a young adult is not fully developed, engaging in cannabis use can set back young people mentally, causing issues like anxiety and depression, Amen cautioned.
'When you start using marijuana, alcohol or other drugs, your development gets arrested,' he said.
'Many people don't really appreciate how important their brain is when they're 17, 18, 21 or 23, because it really doesn't finish developing until you're 25 or 26,' Amen said. 'And if you hurt it early, it might not ever catch up.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Warning About 'Unusual Fatigue' Extended for Millions
Warning About 'Unusual Fatigue' Extended for Millions

Newsweek

time6 hours ago

  • Newsweek

Warning About 'Unusual Fatigue' Extended for Millions

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Officials in Wisconsin extended an air quality advisory impacting millions through Friday night as smoke pollution reached levels considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. Breathing in the smoke could worsen preexisting health conditions or cause new issues. People were told to monitor themselves for symptoms such as unusual fatigue, as it could indicate a serious problem, specifically for those with heart conditions. Why It Matters Widespread air quality alerts and advisories were issued across the Upper Midwest on Thursday due to dense wildfire smoke drifting south from Canada. The fine particle pollution—PM2.5—reached levels classified as "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" (USG) or worse in numerous counties, prompting warnings from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The primary populations at risk include older adults, children, and those with existing heart or respiratory conditions. Officials emphasized that even brief exposure to air pollutants carried in wildfire smoke can lead to exacerbation of underlying medical problems, trigger new symptoms, or prompt emergency medical needs, particularly among vulnerable groups. A person wearing a face mask takes photos of the skyline as smoke from wildfires in Canada cause hazy conditions in New York City on June 7, 2023. A person wearing a face mask takes photos of the skyline as smoke from wildfires in Canada cause hazy conditions in New York City on June 7, 2023. Angela Weiss/Getty What To Know The alert took effect at 3 p.m. on Thursday afternoon and will remain in place at least through Friday night at 11 p.m. Nearly all of Wisconsin is currently under the advisory, except for the southwest part of the state. Dozens of counties in northern, central, and southeastern Wisconsin are affected. The advisory covered both rural and urban areas, including cities such as Milwaukee, Green Bay, and La Crosse. The DNR and National Weather Service (NWS) urged residents, especially those with asthma, heart disease, or other lung problems, to reschedule or move activities indoors to minimize exposure. Younger children, older adults, and anyone noticing symptoms such as coughing or unusual fatigue were also advised to limit outdoor activity and seek medical attention if necessary. A Wisconsin DNR spokesperson told Newsweek on Thursday that there have been 11 air quality alerts issued so far this year, nearly triple the number of such alerts issued in 2024, reflecting the increased scope and frequency of wildfire-driven smoke incidents across the Midwest this summer. However, 14 such alerts were issued in Wisconsin in 2023 as Canadian wildfire smoke descended across the U.S. that year. Prior to 2023, there were zero alerts in 2022, and six alerts in 2021. Air quality alerts were also issued in Minnesota and Michigan on Friday. What People Are Saying The Wisconsin DNR spokesperson told Newsweek: "Wildfires occur frequently in the US and Canada throughout the summer months, so we will continue watching for potential smoke impacts as long as there are active wildfires." An NWS air quality alert for Wisconsin: "Canadian wildfire smoke has entered northwest Wisconsin Thursday and will continue to move to the southeast through the remainder of the day. On Friday, smoke will begin moving south. Winds will begin turning southerly Friday night into Saturday, at which point the smoke will begin moving back north. It is possible that the advisory will need to be extended into Saturday for some areas of Wisconsin." What Happens Next The air quality alert was scheduled to last through Friday night, with the potential for extension or geographic adjustment based on updated data from air monitors and forecast models. Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant for updated alerts and to monitor their own health closely, especially individuals in higher-risk categories.

Llamas could help treat schizophrenia: study
Llamas could help treat schizophrenia: study

New York Post

time9 hours ago

  • New York Post

Llamas could help treat schizophrenia: study

Talk about a llama-zing discovery. They're known for their fluffy furs and sassy stares, but scientists have discovered that llamas may also be the key to treating schizophrenia. And this isn't even the first time this year that llamas have been at the heart of curing a scary health issue. Advertisement They're known for their fluffy furs and sassy stares, but it turns out llamas may also be the key to treating schizophrenia. Cavan for Adobe – In a mind-blowing new study, French researchers have developed a molecule from llama antibodies that could one day help patients with schizophrenia overcome cognitive deficits — a major hurdle that existing treatments fail to address. Scientists at the Institute of Functional Genomics in Montpellier have engineered what's called a nanobody — a tiny antibody fragment found in camelids like llamas — that can activate a specific glutamate receptor responsible for brain signaling. What's more, this molecule can cross the blood-brain barrier — a major challenge in drug development — and go straight to work on neural receptors when injected via a vein or muscle. Advertisement Researchers tested the llama-derived nanobody in two preclinical models of schizophrenia. Just one injection was enough to boost brainpower in mice, showing a clear and sustained improvement in cognitive function for up to a week. More research will be needed to see if this presents a promising new avenue of treatment for schizophrenia and, if so, whether or not this can be expanded to treat other psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. Advertisement The findings were published Wednesday in the journal Nature. Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder that affects how people perceive reality, leading to hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking and speech, paranoia and time gaps. elnariz – Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder that affects how people perceive reality, leading to hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking and speech, paranoia and time gaps. More than 200,000 people in the US are living with schizophrenia, for which there is no cure. Advertisement The cause of schizophrenia is still unknown, but research suggests a combination of genetic and environmental factors are likely to encourage its onset, which typically occurs between the ages of 16 and 30. Schizophrenia is primarily treated with antipsychotics, which target some of the more severe symptoms like hallucinations and delusions, but fail to do much for cognitive function. This new study offers hope for repairing cognition, as opposed to simply managing symptoms. 'In humans obviously we don't know [yet], but in mice yes, it is sufficient to treat most deficits of schizophrenia,' paper author and CNRS molecular biologist Jean-Philippe Pin told Newsweek. 'For development as a therapeutic tool, more safety and bioavailability studies are needed. Production of large quantities of high quality must be set up to start human studies. For these two possibilities, either a company takes up our project or we find investors to create a startup company.' Meanwhile, another study published last month found that llamas may also hold the secret weapon to curing COVID — and it's also in their nanobodies. 'This work provides a strong foundation for developing next-generation antibodies that could be vital in combating not only current but also future coronavirus threats,' said Dr. Xavier Saelens, senior author of the study and a principal investigator at the VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology in Belgium.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store