Study Links Heavy Cannabis Use to Memory Impairment in Young Adults

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Research from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus suggests that heavy cannabis use may negatively affect working memory in young adults. The study, cited as the largest of its kind, involved brain imaging of over 1,000 participants aged 22 to 36. It found that those who used cannabis frequently exhibited reduced brain activity during memory tasks, particularly those who reported heavy lifetime use of cannabis, defined as over 1,000 instances.

Study coauthor Joshua Gowin, PhD, emphasized the importance of understanding both the benefits and risks of cannabis as its usage rises globally. While the research indicated cognitive impairment in the working memory task, it noted a lack of significant findings in other cognitive tests.

The research supports previous findings linking substantial cannabis consumption to altered brain activation, particularly in critical areas associated with cognitive functions. Gowin advises caution for heavy users, suggesting that abstaining from cannabis before memory-intensive activities may enhance performance. The study appears in the journal JAMA Network Open.

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