CANNABIS, THE PHANTOM MENACE, MORE DANGEROUS THAN IMAGINED

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CANNABIS, THE PHANTOM MENACE, MORE DANGEROUS THAN IMAGINED



The relationship between cannabis and our brain is complicated, but new research paints a sobering picture. While millions enjoy recreational marijuana, scientists are uncovering some troubling long-term effects that we can't ignore.

Think of your brain as an incredibly complex network of highways, with information zipping along neural pathways like cars on a freeway. Now, imagine what happens when some of those highways start breaking down. That's essentially what researchers at McGill University discovered when they looked at how cannabis affects young brains at risk of psychosis.

Using cutting-edge brain scanning technology, the McGill team found something striking: people at risk for psychosis already had fewer neural connections than usual. But when cannabis entered the picture, things got worse. The drug appeared to interfere with the brain's natural pruning process – like a gardener who can't tell which branches to trim and which to keep.

"Not every cannabis user will develop psychosis, but for some, the risks are high," explains Dr. Romina Mizrahi, who led the study at McGill's Department of Psychiatry. She's not just talking about temporary effects, either. These changes can lead to serious issues with motivation and social relationships – problems that current medications struggle to address.

But it's not just mental health at stake. The American Heart Association dropped another bombshell after studying 430,000 adults: cannabis users face increased risks of heart attacks and strokes. This isn't just statistical noise – we're talking about real health impacts that affect real people.

Here's the silver lining: understanding these brain changes might help us develop better treatments. The McGill team is already planning their next phase of research, hoping to spot warning signs of psychosis before it fully develops. Think of it as an early warning system for brain health.

This groundbreaking study is the first time scientists have watched these structural changes unfold in real-time in high-risk individuals. The researchers studied 49 young people, ages 16 to 30, using technology that allowed them to see the brain's architecture in unprecedented detail.

The research, published in JAMA Psychiatry, offers hope for better treatments. As PhD student Belen Blasco points out, current medications mainly target hallucinations but often miss the social and motivational challenges that can make daily life so difficult for people with psychosis.

This work, supported by the Canadian Institute of Health Research and conducted at prestigious institutions like the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, reminds us that what we don't know can hurt us when it comes to brain health. And sometimes, the most valuable scientific discoveries are the ones that make us rethink what we thought we knew.

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