A recent study suggests that cannabis use may have differing effects based on the age of the user. While it could potentially disrupt brain development in early adolescence, it might have benefits for memory and cognitive function in older adults. This raises interesting questions about the impact of cannabis on the brain at different stages of life.
According to a 2021 study led by Matthew Albaugh and his colleagues at the University of Vermont, brain scans of nearly 800 teens taken five years apart revealed that adolescents who reported using cannabis during that period showed more shrinking in regions of the prefrontal cortex compared to teens who didn’t use cannabis.
This finding suggests a potential negative impact of cannabis on brain development in early adolescence. It also points to the importance of understanding how cannabis affects the developing brain and the potential long-term consequences of early cannabis use.
However, the study also raises the intriguing possibility that cannabis may have positive effects on memory and cognitive function in older adults. This contrasts with its potential negative impact on younger users, indicating that the effects of cannabis on the brain may be influenced by age.
