Marijuana's coup de grass to memory (age Mick Millar 4/6/08)
balls
the brain that regulate memory and emotion, Australian researchers
have found in a world-first study.
The team scanned the brains of heavy users and found never-seen-before
shrinkage of the parts known as the hippocampus and amygdala.
The changes were the equivalent of minor brain damage or premature
ageing, said researcher Dr Murat Yucel, from the University of
Melbourne and the Orygen Research Centre.
The researchers took high-resolution MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
scans of the brains of 15 men, average age 39, who had smoked more
than five joints daily for over 10 years.
When compared to scans of non-users, they showed a drop in the size of
the hippocampus by 12% and a 7% shrinkage of the amygdala. "That may
not sound like a lot, but believe me it's a lot of neurons and
connections and cells that would be very important (to normal brain
function)," Dr Yucel said.
The study was also a breakthrough because it showed a clear
relationship between the amount of cannabis and the quantity of brain
changes, psychotic experiences and memory problems in the subjects.
"This is the first time science has shown that everybody is vulnerable
if you use long enough and heavily enough," Dr Yucel said. "It does
not just apply to a small group of particularly vulnerable people."
Damage was likely (but not yet proven) to be greater in people who
started using at a younger age, especially adolescents, he said.
The hippocampus helps turn an experience into a memory that can last
longer than a few minutes. It has also been linked to navigational
abilities — taxi drivers have been found to have bigger-than-usual
hippocampi.
The amygdala also helps lay down permanent memories and cues our
emotional response to the world. Damage to this part of the brain can
lead to emotional problems such as irrational fear or phobias.
The brain damage was mirrored in the abilities of the study subjects.
About half reported some form of paranoia and social withdrawal, and
their ability to recall lists of words was as if they were 16 years
older.
The research was published this week in the journal Archives of
General Psychiatry.
Dr Yucel's team plans to expand on this study, to look at the effects
on younger brains and to measure the effects of different levels of
marijuana use.
"One of the key questions is whether there is a safe level of use,"
said study co-author Dr Nadia Solowij, from the University of
Wollongong.
"That's something we can't answer at the moment."
ralph
<aboriginal...@gmail.com> wrote:
>LONG-TERM, heavy cannabis use causes significant damage to parts of
>the brain that regulate memory and emotion, Australian researchers
>have found in a world-first study.
World-first? Anybody who has ever talked to a regular user of
marijuana will know this by observation already. They invariably show
signs of brain damage.
concerned
> On Sat, 7 Jun 2008 16:17:28 -0700 (PDT), balls
>
> >LONG-TERM, heavy cannabis use causes significant damage to parts of
> >the brain that regulate memory and emotion, Australian researchers
> >have found in a world-first study.
>
> World-first? Anybody who has ever talked to a regular user of
> marijuana will know this by observation already. They invariably show
> signs of brain damage.
Professor Sel Snotenough co-founder of the Cannabis Research
Foundation of Australia (1975) After 30 Years on field studies
indicated the human brain is very complicated matter in it's own
rights, be it male or the female species. He said "The brain is much
like the modern day computer diskette, formatted prepared for the
downloads of life and learning by the time we reach adult hood "
The hippocmpus, of the brain suggested to regulate emotion and memory
the amygdala, part thought to regulate fear and aggression. Professor
Sel Snotenough, said, As adult most have experienced emotional built
up and aggression, when the our head feels it is about to explode the
brain expanding forcing water from the eyes (tears) a lot of
Australian men hold back this form of natural release causing presser
build in the brain.
Professor Sel Snotenough study 15 Man that had been placed Court anger
management programs over a ten year period that had emotion, memory,
fear and violent aggression problems, associated with blurred vision,
migraine headaches, bulging eye balls, no tolerance to loud noise.
systems of an expanded hippocmpus and amygdala in the brain.
Professor Sel Snotenough said "in the experiment used hashish and
marijuana to reduce the size of expanded hippocmpus and amygdala,
which it did, He also reported , that two of his clients complained
they had a disturbing experience shortly after starting using
marijuana, Professor Sel Snotenough, explained that is what is
commonly know as The High, the first time user's experience, the
effect will be reduce after time and after regular use, it will no
longer be a factor in the treatment.
Professor Sel Snotenough, said the experiment showed heavy marijuana
use over many years appears to shrink parts of the brain that control
emotion and memory" in turn removing pressure on the brain. an like
alcohol which builds up pressure on brain.