Marijuana users 'have abnormally low blood flow in every part of the brain - including Alzheimer's danger zones'

Source: Daily Mail (UK)
Published: Nov 28, 2016
Author: Mia de Graaf
Post Date: 2016-11-29 02:57:35 by nolu chan
Views: 4914

Marijuana users 'have abnormally low blood flow in every part of the brain - including Alzheimer's danger zones'

  • Researchers studied brain scans of 1,000 US marijuana users
  • They found cannabis users all had low blood flow in the hippocampus
  • The users also had significant restricted blood flow all over the brain
  • Hippocampus is key for memories, and is a ground zero for Alzheimer's

By Mia De Graaf For Dailymail.com

Published: 11:41 EST, 28 November 2016 | Updated: 17:18 EST, 28 November 2016

Marijuana users have abnormally low blood flow in virtually every part of the brain, new scans reveal.

Sophisticated imaging of 1,000 cannabis users' brains found all of them had widespread restrictions or build-ups of blood flow.

Many had abnormal blood levels in areas affected by Alzheimer's disease, such as the hippocampus.

The findings, published in the latest Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, are an ominous warning as the United States rapidly embraces recreational and medical marijuana legalization.

It comes just weeks after the White House's surgeon general, Dr Vivek Gupta, warned legalization is moving faster than research.

The researchers at Amen Clinics analyzed data from a broad database including 26,268 patients across the US between 1995 and 2015.

The patients - from California, Washington, Virginia, Georgia and New York - all had complex treatment-resistant issues, and all underwent single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) - a sophisticated imaging study that evaluates blood flow and activity patterns while undergoing concentration tests.

One thousand of the patients were marijuana users.

Comparing those patients' brain scans with 100 healthy controls, the researchers saw a stark difference in blood flow levels.

Every marijuana user had significantly lower blood flow in the right hippocampus compared to the controls.

Marijuana use is thought to interfere with memory formation by inhibiting activity in this part of the brain.

Co-author Dr Elisabeth Jorandby said even she was shocked by the findings, despite dealing with marijuana patients on a routine basis.

'As a physician who routinely sees marijuana users, what struck me was not only the global reduction in blood flow in the marijuana users brains , but that the hippocampus was the most affected region due to its role in memory and Alzheimer's disease,' she said.

'Our research has proven that marijuana users have lower cerebral blood flow than non-users.

'Second, the most predictive region separating these two groups is low blood flow in the hippocampus on concentration brain SPECT imaging.

'This work suggests that marijuana use has damaging influences in the brain – particularly regions important in memory and learning and known to be affected by Alzheimer's.'

Dr George Perry, editor in chief of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease said: 'Open use of marijuana, through legalization, will reveal the wide range of marijuana's benefits and threats to human health.

'This study indicates troubling effects on the hippocampus that may be the harbingers of brain damage.'

Dr Daniel Amen, founder of Amen Clinics, said: 'Our research demonstrates that marijuana can have significant negative effects on brain function.

'The media has given the general impression that marijuana is a safe recreational drug, this research directly challenges that notion.

'In another new study just released, researchers showed that marijuana use tripled the risk of psychosis. Caution is clearly in order.'

Post Comment   Private Reply

#1: nolu chan    To: All (#0)

Scientific evidence indicates that it is the substance, and not twisted tighty whities, cutting off blood supply to their brains.

nolu chan posted on 2016-11-29 03:02:24   Reply   Private Reply

#3: Deckard    To: nolu chan, Gatlin (#1)

Medical marijuana has potential as Alzheimer's treatment, study says

One recent study found THC, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, stimulates the removal of toxic plaque in the brain, a common feature of the disease. Furthermore, the researchers discovered it blocks inflammation, which damages neurons in the brain.

"It is reasonable to conclude that there is a therapeutic potential of cannabinoids for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease," wrote David Schubert, senior researcher and a professor at Salk Institute for Biological Studies.

Keith Fargo, director of scientific programs and outreach for the Alzheimer's Association, refers to marijuana as a "legitimate avenue of research." The association funded some of Schubert's early research and Fargo sees therapeutic potential in components (or chemical derivatives) of cannabis to alleviate brain inflammation.

The Effects of Medical Marijuana on Alzheimer’s Prevention

A preclinical study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease found that very small doses of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a chemical found in marijuana, can slow the production of beta-amyloid proteins, thought to be a hallmark characteristic and key contributor to the progression of Alzheimer’s.

The study, published in 2014, is among others to support the effectiveness of THC in prohibiting the growth of toxic amyloid plagues.

Co-author of the study, Neel Nabar, cautions against drawing quick conclusions from their study saying:

“It’s important to keep in mind that just because a drug may be effective doesn’t mean it can be safely used by anyone. However, these findings may lead to the development of related compounds that are safe, legal, and useful in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.”

Another study from the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California has also found that tetrahydrocannabinol and other compounds found in marijuana may reduce the amount of beta amyloid in the brain. Beta amyloid is a hallmark characteristic of Alzheimer’s and is commonly thought to cause the neurodegenerative disease.

Deckard posted on 2016-11-29 09:03:47   Reply   Private Reply

#4: rlk    To: nolu chan (#0)

Marijuana users 'have abnormally low blood flow in every part of the brain - including Alzheimer's danger zones'

Yup. But potheads enjoy the debilitation.

rlk posted on 2016-11-29 11:19:17   Reply   Private Reply

#5: Hondo68    To: nolu chan, cherry picking, junk science, global warming (#0)

The researchers at Amen Clinics analyzed data from a broad database including 26,268 patients across the US between 1995 and 2015.

Sophisticated imaging of 1,000 cannabis users' brains found all of them had widespread restrictions or build-ups of blood flow.

Of 26,268 patients over a twenty year period, they cherry picked 1,000 that suggested low blood flow.

This is similar to the global warming study of Russian tree rings, where they cherry picked only those that supported their crackpot theory of man made global warming.

JUNK SCIENCE!

Hondo68 posted on 2016-11-29 14:21:18   Reply   Private Reply

#6: Roscoe    To: hondo68 (#5)

cherry picked 1,000

They were virgins?

Roscoe posted on 2016-11-29 14:22:58   Reply   Private Reply

#7: BorisY    To: nolu chan (#0)

tripled the risk of psychosis

idiots
gravitate
in
a
downward
spiral
jump
fall

due
to
pre
defective
existing
condition
experiences

the
high
replicates
the
continuous
bump
damage

prevents
recovery

mental
crunch
asphyxia

sexual
strangulation
orgasm

life
after
physical
death
with
out
the
consciousness

memory

meaning

purpose

too

love
boris

ps

chemical
brain
boarding

BorisY posted on 2016-11-29 16:10:00   Reply   Private Reply

#8: nolu chan    To: hondo68 (#5)

Of 26,268 patients over a twenty year period, they cherry picked 1,000 that suggested low blood flow.

This is similar to the global warming study of Russian tree rings, where they cherry picked only those that supported their crackpot theory of man made global warming.

JUNK SCIENCE!

NO SCIENCE!

I see the stuff has already affected your short term memory and reasoning skills. Of course, you "forgot" to include any source for the claims pulled out of your ass.

From the article:

The researchers at Amen Clinics analyzed data from a broad database including 26,268 patients across the US between 1995 and 2015.

The patients - from California, Washington, Virginia, Georgia and New York - all had complex treatment-resistant issues, and all underwent single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) - a sophisticated imaging study that evaluates blood flow and activity patterns while undergoing concentration tests.

One thousand of the patients were marijuana users.

Comparing those patients' brain scans with 100 healthy controls, the researchers saw a stark difference in blood flow levels.

Every marijuana user had significantly lower blood flow in the right hippocampus compared to the controls.

Marijuana use is thought to interfere with memory formation by inhibiting activity in this part of the brain.

Co-author Dr Elisabeth Jorandby said even she was shocked by the findings, despite dealing with marijuana patients on a routine basis.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/11/28/16/3AD4151E00000578-3979220-Health_dangers_Sophisticated_imaging_of_1_000_cannabis_users_bra-a-21_1480351292656.jpg

nolu chan posted on 2016-11-29 17:08:06   Reply   Private Reply