Study finds abnormally low blood flow in the brain of marijuana users

[vostok]

(yawn)
Hippocampus, the brain's key memory and learning center, has the lowest blood flow in marijuana users suggesting higher vulnerability to Alzheimer's. As the U.S. races to legalize marijuana for medicinal and recreational use, a new, large scale brain imaging study gives reason for caution.

Published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, researchers using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), a sophisticated imaging study that evaluates blood flow and activity patterns, demonstrated abnormally low blood flow in virtually every area of the brain studies in nearly 1,000 marijuana compared to healthy controls, including areas known to be affected by Alzheimer's pathology such as the hippocampus.

All data were obtained for analysis from a large multisite database, involving 26,268 patients who came for evaluation of complex, treatment resistant issues to one of nine outpatient neuropsychiatric clinics across the United States (Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Fairfield, and Brisbane, CA, Tacoma and Bellevue, WA, Reston, VA, Atlanta, GA and New York, NY) between 1995-2015. Of these, 982 current or former marijuana users had brain SPECT at rest and during a mental concentration task compared to almost 100 healhty controls.

Predictive analytics with discriminant analysis was done to determine if brain SPECT regions can distinguish marijuana user brains from controls brain. Low blood flow in the hippocampus in marijuana users reliably distinguished marijuana users from controls.

The right hippocampus during a concentration task was the single most predictive region in distinguishing marijuana users from their normal counterparts. Marijuana use is thought to interfere with memory formation by inhibiting activity in this part of the brain.
(Continue
http://www.news-medical.net/news/20161128/Study-finds-abnormally-low-blood-flow-in-the-brain-of-marijuana-users.aspx

full report for 27.50 Euro
http://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-alzheimers-disease/jad160833

(yawn...yawn)

 

[Organicpoop]

I do not believe it. What happens is cannabis users just stop buying other drugs.


Who needs shitty drugs if you pot smoking option, non addictive, non life threatening.

 

[DG1959]

REEFER MADNESS !!!!!

 

[I.G.Rowdit]

I would not take 'study' this too seriously, One of the authors is Daniel Amen.

From Quackwatch (https://www.quackwatch.org/06ResearchProjects/amen.html):

Daniel G. Amen, M.D., runs the Amen Clinics, writes books, gives lectures, maintains a Web site, and makes other media appearances. He recommends single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to help diagnose and manage cases of brain trauma, underachievement, school failure, depression, obsessive compulsive disorders, anxiety, aggressiveness, cognitive decline, and brain toxicity from drugs or alcohol. He claims to use SPECT to "re-balance a brain whose activity patterns are clearly abnormal.” He describes SPECT as a "window into the hardware of the soul." He claims that SPECT scanting provides “guidance in the application of specific medications or other treatments such as supplements, neurofeedback, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.”

The referenced article is just marketing, not science. Amen is just trying to broaden his customer base.

Excuse me while I take some time to re-balance my brain and possibly enjoy some transcranial magnetic stimulation. Please don't tell my Mom I'm experimenting with self-stimulation.

 

[SpectateSwamp]

Pot makes you smarter. Every head knows that.

 

[Zagon]

It makes sense

 

[Diana Gordon]

Though it makes a little sense, I still don't wanna believe it. Hippocampus please don't do this shit kinda research Can't get over my marijuana !

 

[vostok]

I would not take 'study' this too seriously, One of the authors is Daniel Amen.

From Quackwatch (https://www.quackwatch.org/06ResearchProjects/amen.html):

Daniel G. Amen, M.D., runs the Amen Clinics, writes books, gives lectures, maintains a Web site, and makes other media appearances. He recommends single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to help diagnose and manage cases of brain trauma, underachievement, school failure, depression, obsessive compulsive disorders, anxiety, aggressiveness, cognitive decline, and brain toxicity from drugs or alcohol. He claims to use SPECT to "re-balance a brain whose activity patterns are clearly abnormal.” He describes SPECT as a "window into the hardware of the soul." He claims that SPECT scanting provides “guidance in the application of specific medications or other treatments such as supplements, neurofeedback, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.”

The referenced article is just marketing, not science. Amen is just trying to broaden his customer base.

Excuse me while I take some time to re-balance my brain and possibly enjoy some transcranial magnetic stimulation. Please don't tell my Mom I'm experimenting with self-stimulation.

IG nailed it

 

[dannyboy602]

Doesn't weed cure just about everything now? If not now then definitely one day it will...studies like these prove one thing one day and the next are proved to be false. Weren't eggs bad for you just a few years ago? Now they're nature's super food. Just ten years ago fat was bad for you. Now we have fat free everything and now they're saying fat is good for your brain. Fucking scientists. They'll say anything to save their research money.

 

[I.G.Rowdit]

Fucking scientists. They'll say anything to save their research money.

Daniel Amen is most definitely NOT A SCIENTIST! He is a conman using your ignorance and 'sciency' sounding crap to empty your wallet. Leave scientists out of this. Science had nothing to do with this abortion.

 

[Poontanger]

Im with Dannyboy, government hadouts , to keep U afloat, U will release anything
Or does this mean , booze, nicotene, & prescription pain killers are good for ya!!

 

[igothydrotoneverywhere]

If everything slowed down, we would all live longer. The problem at hand here is this false dichotomy of scientific knowledge.

 

[Flowki]

Regardless of this being false or not, what I found hilarious was the part where they compare results to ''normal'' people. Lol, as if they have not been contaminated by ''clean'' city water, environmental contaminants/fumes, clinical/illegal drugs and the consumption of less than natural or nutritious/balanced diet. I'd love to see the same scan on ''normal'' people a thousand years ago.. or even one from a current reclusive tribe member.

The story's of more and more people having a complete turn around from cancer by using this plant is increasing by the day. Even if this study was correct it's still worth the risk.

 

[whitebb2727]

I thought studies show that cannabis protects the brain against Alzheimer's.

 

[Yodaweed]

Isn't weed an aphrodisiac? I mean the blood has to go somewhere....

 

[CriticalCheeze]

Regardless of this being false or not, what I found hilarious was the part where they compare results to ''normal'' people. Lol, as if they have not been contaminated by ''clean'' city water, environmental contaminants/fumes, clinical/illegal drugs and the consumption of less than natural or nutritious/balanced diet. I'd love to see the same scan on ''normal'' people a thousand years ago.. or even one from a current reclusive tribe member.

The story's of more and more people having a complete turn around from cancer by using this plant is increasing by the day. Even if this study was correct it's still worth the risk.

lol..As f anybody is "normal" nowadays.

 

[greasemonkeymann]

(yawn)
Hippocampus, the brain's key memory and learning center, has the lowest blood flow in marijuana users suggesting higher vulnerability to Alzheimer's. As the U.S. races to legalize marijuana for medicinal and recreational use, a new, large scale brain imaging study gives reason for caution.

Published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, researchers using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), a sophisticated imaging study that evaluates blood flow and activity patterns, demonstrated abnormally low blood flow in virtually every area of the brain studies in nearly 1,000 marijuana compared to healthy controls, including areas known to be affected by Alzheimer's pathology such as the hippocampus.

All data were obtained for analysis from a large multisite database, involving 26,268 patients who came for evaluation of complex, treatment resistant issues to one of nine outpatient neuropsychiatric clinics across the United States (Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Fairfield, and Brisbane, CA, Tacoma and Bellevue, WA, Reston, VA, Atlanta, GA and New York, NY) between 1995-2015. Of these, 982 current or former marijuana users had brain SPECT at rest and during a mental concentration task compared to almost 100 healhty controls.

Predictive analytics with discriminant analysis was done to determine if brain SPECT regions can distinguish marijuana user brains from controls brain. Low blood flow in the hippocampus in marijuana users reliably distinguished marijuana users from controls.

The right hippocampus during a concentration task was the single most predictive region in distinguishing marijuana users from their normal counterparts. Marijuana use is thought to interfere with memory formation by inhibiting activity in this part of the brain.
(Continue
http://www.news-medical.net/news/20161128/Study-finds-abnormally-low-blood-flow-in-the-brain-of-marijuana-users.aspx

full report for 27.50 Euro
http://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-alzheimers-disease/jad160833

(yawn...yawn)

well... we all know that cannabis lowers blood pressure.
so ummm, wouldn't it be fairly safe to assume that lower blood pressure would equal lower flows as well?