Cannabis far more toxic to the adolescent brain
CANNABIS is far more toxic to the brains of young people who are exposed to the drug, than it is to adults, according to ground-breaking new Irish research.
The unpublished work, by scientists at Trinity College, Dublin, includes technology which actually takes photographs of subjects' brains.
Studies into cannabis, running in tandem, point to a difference in the way the brain operates for cannabis users and non-cannabis users.
But the research also suggests that the drug is more toxic to youngsters.
Dr Hugh Garavan, who is leading one of the studies is examining the prefrontal cortex which is used for decision making, and the hippocampus which is used for memory.
"We are finding differences with cannabis users. The hippocampus is being driven to work harder, perhaps to overcompensate for the drug."
Memory loss, psychosis and paranoia are some of the symptoms that might be linked to these skewed "brain pictures".
Dr Garavan added that the hippocampus is one of the last regions to develop properly. "Adolescents are more likely to experiment but their brains may not yet be mature."
- Gareth Morgan
