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nanowell t1_jbtg80a wrote

According to some studies, long-term cannabis abuse may cause abnormal brain structure and poor memory, especially in people who have or are at risk of developing schizophrenia. Cannabis, particularly THC (the main psychoactive component of cannabis), may also reduce REM sleep, which is the stage of sleep when we do our most active dreaming, processing emotions, and cementing new memories. Decreasing REM sleep may have some benefits for people with PTSD, since nightmares are a common and disturbing symptom. However, for most people, poor sleep may impair cognitive performance and focus, and increase the risk of cognitive decline and dementia in the long term. Therefore, it is possible that years of poor sleep due to cannabis abuse would contribute to some brain damage.

However, these effects may depend on several factors, such as the dose, frequency, duration, age of onset, and individual susceptibility of cannabis use. Some studies have found no significant effects of cannabis on brain structure or cognition after controlling for confounding variables. More research is needed to establish a causal link between cannabis abuse and brain damage.

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crazybeardude t1_jbuxvqz wrote

  1. Is there an effect of cannabis abuse on brain structure? Evidence is mixed. While there are certainly correlations, it is hard to conclude that it is a causal relationship. While longitudinal evidence supports a causal effect, data from twin and genetic studies show the same genes that are associated with cannabis use are also associated with brain structure (and probably brain development). So we cannot rule out causes besides cannabis use (e.g., behavioral traits associated with a greater likelihood of using cannabis are associated with smaller brain structure). Some recent interesting work has also shown that associations with cannabis are in fact attributable to polysubstance use - not cannabis alone.

  2. If there are changes caused by cannabis, are they permanent? As opposed to alcohol, there have been very few studies of cannabis abstinence, though those that exist show some promise that any effects of cannabis on brain structure are probably reversible (provided use is stopped early enough).

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ahufflepuffhobbit t1_jbukiow wrote

Several studies have linked marijuana consumption with the onset of schizophrenia and persistent psychotic symptoms. Some of these report that a frequent user of cannabis has 6 times higher probability of developing schizophrenia. This, however is neither a necessary or sufficient condition, there are other factors at play, some kind of genetic susceptibility being probably one of them.

Source

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Half4sleep t1_jbux51n wrote

Or is it that people that are schizophrenic are more prone in % to test drugs than "normal" people, for the lack of a better word?

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ahufflepuffhobbit t1_jbuxtcs wrote

It may be. I haven't read the studies that report this with enough attention to determine if it was 100% well realized or not, but the review article I cited seemed very interesting and comprehensive, citing several papers with different conclusions. Most of them appear to agree that there is a correlation between psychotic alterations and marijuana, but more research is definitely needed to fully understand the mechanisms and possible causality.

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Half4sleep t1_jbwzja5 wrote

Now, I don't know too much about this myself, but jumping to a collusion about the correlation is dangerous.

People who eat a lot of cheese are more prone to heart attacks, does that mean cheese causes it? No, overweight people just eat more of it, and because they're fat they have an increased risk of heart diseases.

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fuerdiesache t1_jbys06s wrote

this is more likely the case, though more studies are needed to confirm it. i suspect this is essentially similar to the myth that eating lots of sugar/carbs can cause diabetes -- it is not generally correct, but it can apply to people who are genetically predisposed to diabetes.

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Regular_Actuator408 t1_jbuwl2o wrote

I know there’s a lot of conjecture of cause/effect around this, as those in the early stages of developing schizophrenia are much more likely to “self medicate” even unknowingly.

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counterbalanced_ t1_jbvdm4p wrote

Because some clinical issues present as trauma informed, the results are clinically skewed in those studies. To find conclusively that any clinical issue can be created by environmental mechanics is redundant.

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[deleted] t1_jbuqny2 wrote

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[deleted] t1_jburrfy wrote

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chihuahuazord t1_jbvaz6s wrote

This is the equivalent of a Republican saying “it’s snowing in Texas today so global warming isn’t real”.

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mmoarpgfps t1_jbytxr7 wrote

"Sea levels been rising since the 60s, thats why the actual sea currents end on the same level and no island(looking at the one made for liberty statue) has maintain its sea level from its creation"

You can believe whatever you want at this point. Reality wont change because of it.

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chihuahuazord t1_jbz1srp wrote

You have so, so much to learn. I bet you think you’re always the smart guy in the room too lol

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[deleted] t1_jbxsay8 wrote

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mmoarpgfps t1_jbxxoqq wrote

I know the dates. Oct 2016 to june 2018. But it was a brief pilot experience, also PPL not CPL. Thats why i say at soempoint it wasnt that special.

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TheReapingFields t1_jbus5d8 wrote

Show me where I specifically said it WILL, for sure. I said it CAN.

I am only half joking when I said at the start of my post that I hope it does, because otherwise I have been wasting my time! It helps a lot when you have occasional bouts of anxiety stemming from trauma, I know that much. A bit of a rewire is no bad thing when what you start with isn't any fun to deal with.

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