22/11/2024
A long-term study investigated the connection between ma*****na use and cognitive changes associated with aging in a group of 5,162 Danish men over 44 years. Researchers measured participants’ IQs at an average age of 22 and again at 62. The findings revealed that men who had used cannabis experienced less cognitive decline over time compared to those who had not.
On average, participants’ IQs dropped by 6.2 points during the study. However, cannabis users showed a smaller decline—1.3 points less than non-users—even after accounting for factors that could influence the results. Additionally, the study found no evidence that starting cannabis use earlier or using it frequently negatively impacted cognitive decline.
The researchers stated, “Men with a history of cannabis use had less cognitive decline from early adulthood to late midlife compared to men without a history of cannabis use.” They emphasized that neither the age at which cannabis use began nor its frequency significantly influenced cognitive changes over time.
The authors concluded that their findings are consistent with most existing studies, which generally show no strong link between ma*****na use and long-term cognitive decline. However, they called for more research to determine whether cannabis has no lasting negative effects on the brain or if any effects are temporary and fade with time.
This research challenges longstanding claims that ma*****na use harms IQ or cognitive function over time. Earlier studies linking cannabis to lower IQ have faced criticism for flawed methods, such as ignoring socioeconomic factors. For instance, a widely cited 2012 study suggesting early cannabis use caused lower IQ in midlife was later discredited for methodological issues.
Paul Armentano, Deputy Director of NORML, commented on the findings: “These results contradict one of the more prominent and longstanding stereotypes about cannabis and cannabis consumers. It is unfortunate that studies refuting these stereotypes rarely receive the attention they deserve.”
Other studies have similarly failed to find strong evidence of long-term cognitive harm from cannabis. For example, a 2024 review in JAMA Psychiatry reported that while cannabis use might cause short-term cognitive impairments, these effects typically disappear after 72 hours of abstinence.
Reference: https://thema*****naherald.com/2024/11/study-cannabis-use-associated-with-less-cognitive-decline-over-lifetime/
