DAWN, Colo. (January 28, 2025) – A new study published today in Jama Network Open Explore the effects of recent and life use cannabis on brain function during cognitive tasks.
The study, the largest of its kind to be completed, examined the effects of cannabis consumption in more than 1,000 young adults aged 22 to 36 using brain imaging technology. Researchers found that 63% of heavy -life cannabis users presented a reduced brain activity during a working memory task, while 68% of recent users have also demonstrated a similar impact.
This drop in brain activity has been associated with greater performance on working memory – the ability to keep and use information to perform tasks. For example, working memory allows a person to follow the instructions that have just been given or to mentally manipulate information, such as resolving a mathematical problem.
‘Make informed decisions’
“While cannabis consumption continues to grow worldwide, the study of its effects on human health has become increasingly important. In doing so, we can provide a well -balanced understanding of the advantages and risks of cannabis consumption, allowing people to make informed decisions and fully understand the potential consequences, “said the first author of the study, Joshua Gowin, PHD, assistant professor of radiology at the University of Colorado Medicine School on the Medical Campus of the University of Colorado Anschutz.
In the study, heavy users are considered to be young adults who have consumed cannabis more than 1000 times during their lifetime. While the use of 10 to 999 times was considered a moderate user and less than 10 times was considered a non-user.
The researchers then studied the neural response of the participants during a magnetic resonance imaging session (MRI) and gave them seven cognitive tasks to perform. The tasks have tested working memory, reward, emotion, language, motor skills – such as the appearance of a finger to map brain control, relational evaluation and the theory of the spirit.
Statistically significant effect on brain function
The researchers found that cannabis had a statistically significant effect on brain function during working memory tasks, which means that the observed impact is very unlikely to be due to random coincidence. This effect was observed in recent and life cannabis users. The impact was less significant for other tasks.
“We have applied the highest standards to our research, establishing rigorous thresholds for statistical significance in the seven cognitive function tests. To minimize the risk of false positives, we used the correction of the false discovery (FDR). Although some of the other tasks indicated potential potential potential (FDR).
During working memory tasks, researchers found that cannabis consumption appeared to reduce brain activity in certain areas of the brain (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, dorsomedial and anterior insulax cortex). These regions of the brain are involved in important cognitive functions such as decision -making, memory, attention and emotional treatment.
However, Gowin mentions that their research also suggests that the abstancy to use cannabis before doing a cognitive task could help improve performance. “People must be aware of their relationship with cannabis, because the absence of cold turkey could also disturb their cognition. For example, heavy users may need to be more cautious, ”explains Gowin.
He adds: “There are a lot of questions to which we still need answers regarding the impact of cannabis on the brain. Large long -term studies are necessary to understand if cannabis consumption directly modifies the brain function, how long these effects last and the impact on the different age groups. »»
About the medical campus of the Colorado Anschutz University
The University of Colorado Anschutz’s medical campus is a world-class medical destination at the forefront of transformative science, medicine, education and patient care. The campus includes professional health schools at Colorado University, more than 60 centers and institutes and two independent hospitals classified at the national level – Uchealth University of Colorado Hospital And Colorado children’s hospital – who see more than two visits to adult and pediatric patients each year. Innovative, interconnected and highly collaborative, the Cu Anschutz medical campus offers treatments that change life, patient care and vocational training and conducts global renown research powered by $ 910 million in annual research funding, including 757 million Dollars in sponsored prices and $ 153 million in philanthropic gifts.
Photo at the top: Joshua Gowin, PHD, Deputy Professor of Radiology, and Justin Juvera, Professional Professional Research Assistant and MRI responsible, consult a cerebral analysis of a participant in Gowin’s study, who follows the study on Effect of cannabis consumption on brain function during the memory work tasks.
