Cannabis does NOT shrink your brain New Study

Discussion in 'Marijuana News' started by Storm Crow, Feb 15, 2015.

  1. #1 Storm Crow, Feb 15, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 15, 2015
    Daily Marijuana Use Is Not Associated with Brain Morphometric Measures in Adolescents or Adults
    http://www.jneurosci.org/content/35/4/1505.abstract
     
    Recent research has suggested that marijuana use is associated with volumetric and shape differences in subcortical structures, including the nucleus accumbens and amygdala, in a dose-dependent fashion. Replication of such results in well controlled studies is essential to clarify the effects of marijuana. To that end, this retrospective study examined brain morphology in a sample of adult daily marijuana users (n = 29) versus nonusers (n = 29) and a sample of adolescent daily users (n = 50) versus nonusers (n = 50). Groups were matched on a critical confounding variable, alcohol use, to a far greater degree than in previously published studies. We acquired high-resolution MRI scans, and investigated group differences in gray matter using voxel-based morphometry, surface-based morphometry, and shape analysis in structures suggested to be associated with marijuana use, as follows: the nucleus accumbens, amygdala, hippocampus, and cerebellum. No statistically significant differences were found between daily users and nonusers on volume or shape in the regions of interest. Effect sizes suggest that the failure to find differences was not due to a lack of statistical power, but rather was due to the lack of even a modest effect. In sum, the results indicate that, when carefully controlling for alcohol use, gender, age, and other variables, there is no association between marijuana use and standard volumetric or shape measurements of subcortical structures.
     
    In other words, the earlier studies did not take into account other confounding factors (alcohol use) and so the result of the earlier studies was wrong! When all these factors were considered, the "shrunken brain" business disappears!
     
    Now in light of another study, it seems that our brains are actually filled with MORE brain cells due to the neurogenesis that cannabinoids cause!
     
    Cannabis use is quantitatively associated with nucleus accumbens and amygdala abnormalities in young adult recreational users http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24741043
     
    In which  “Gray matter density analyses revealed greater gray matter density in marijuana users than in control participants”    (FYI- Alzheimer's, MS and several other nasty neurological conditions are marked by a big drop in gray matter density, so a few extra neurons may slow them down a bit.)
     
    And I just grabbed one from the Neurogenesis section to show that cannabinoids do cause the formation of new brain cells-
     
    Cannabinoids Attenuate the Effects of Aging Upon Neuroinflammation and Neurogenesis.      (abst - 2008)       http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19385063
     
    So there you have it, kids! Cannabis not only does NOT shrink your brain, but the extra neurons from cannabis-caused neurogenesis, may keep us healthier in the long run!
     
    And now I am about to fill a bowl with some of my home-grown "Vortex", to keep that good old neurogenesis going strong! :bongin:
     
     
    Granny

     
  2. Any new studies on Alzheimers disease [SIZE=31.548818588256836px]?[/SIZE]
     
  3. #3 Storm Crow, Feb 15, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 15, 2015
    Cannabinoids for treatment of Alzheimer's disease: moving toward the clinic.   
    (full– 2014)        http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fphar.2014.00037/full
     
    The First Dual ChE/FAAH Inhibitors: New Perspectives for Alzheimer's Disease?
    (full – 2014)                http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4025825/
     
    Identification of potential herbal inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase associated Alzheimer's disorders using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation.        (full – 2014)
    http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bri/2014/705451/
     
    CB2 Receptor Deficiency Increases Amyloid Pathology and Alters Tau Processing in a Transgenic Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease.         (full - 2014)
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3883962/
     
    c-Jun N-terminal kinase has a key role in Alzheimer disease synaptic dysfunction in vivo
    (full – 2014)           http://www.nature.com/cddis/journal/v5/n1/full/cddis2013559a.html
     
    The endocannabinoid system: a putative role in neurodegenerative diseases.    
    (full – 2014)          http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4070159/
     
    Cannabinoids: New Promising Agents in the Treatment of Neurological Diseases
    (link to PDF – 2014)      http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/19/11/18781
     
    Altered Expression of the CB1 Cannabinoid Receptor in the Triple Transgenic Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease.                (abst – 2014) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24496074
     
    Endocannabinoid signaling in Alzheimer's disease: current knowledge and future directions.               (abst – 2014)          http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24813316  
     
    β-Amyloid Inhibits E-S Potentiation through Suppression of Cannabinoid Receptor 1-Dependent Synaptic Disinhibition.                  (abst – 2014)         
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24945775
     
    Type-1 Cannabinoid Receptor Activity During Alzheimer's Disease Progression.
    (abst – 2014)          http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24946872
     
    Endocannabinoid 2-Arachidonylglycerol Protects Primary Cultured Neurons Against Homocysteine-Induced Impairments in Rat Caudate Nucleus Through CB1 Receptor.
    (abst – 2014)       http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25007951
     
    Cannabis-Based Medicine Reduces Multiple Pathological Processes in AβPP/PS1 Mice.
    (abst – 2014)        http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25125475
     
    The Potential Therapeutic Effects of THC on Alzheimer's Disease           (abst – 2014)
    http://iospress.metapress.com/content/8421pvx80144t354/?p=ff122a13e6cf4bf78324e26d253bd883&pi=8
     
    The Role of Endocannabinoid Signaling in the Molecular Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's Disease.              (abst – 2014)
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25147120
     
    Reductions in Endocannabinoid Levels and Enhanced Coupling of Cannabinoid Receptors in the Striatum are Accompanied by Cognitive Impairments in the AβPPswe/PS1ΔE9 Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease.             (abst – 2014) http://iospress.metapress.com/content/0617070q2404258h/
     
    Dronabinol for the treatment of agitation and aggressive behavior in acutely hospitalized severely demented patients with noncognitive behavioral symptoms.       (abst – 2014) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23597932
     
    Type-1 Cannabinoid Receptor Activity During Alzheimer's Disease Progression.
    (abst – 2014)           http://iospress.metapress.com/content/8622072156706328/      
     
    Altered expression of the CB1 cannabinoid receptor in the triple transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.         (abst – 2014)      http://iospress.metapress.com/content/j04j4362605u1464/?p=09c91830dc7947dbb9d2c0ee83a7e915&pi=5
     
    β-Caryophyllene Ameliorates the Alzheimer-Like Phenotype in APP/PS1 Mice through CB2 Receptor Activation and the PPARγ Pathway.          (abst – 2014)
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25171128
     
    Synaptic and Cognitive Improvements by Inhibition of 2-AG Metabolism Are through Upregulation of MicroRNA-188-3p in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease.
    (abst – 2014)            http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25378159
     
    Cannabidiol Normalizes Capase 3, Synatophsin, and Mitochondrial Fission Protein DNM1L Expression Levels in Rats with Brain Iron Overload: Implications for Neuroprotection      (abst – 2014)         http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23893294
     
    Normal aging in rats and pathological aging in human Alzheimer disease decrease FAAH activity: Modulation by cannabinoid agonists.      (abst – 2014) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25456842
     
    Blocking brain's 'internal marijuana' may trigger early Alzheimer's deficits, study shows
    (news – 2014)     
    http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-06-blocking-brain-internal-marijuana-trigger.html
     
    "Brain Marijuana" Can Help with Dementia        (news – 2014)
    http://www.thirdage.com/alzheimers/brain-marijuana-can-help-with-dementia
     
    Marijuana compound may offer treatment for Alzheimer's disease    (news – 2014) http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-08-marijuana-compound-treatment-alzheimer-disease.html
     
    Cannabinoid Signaling and Neuroinflammatory Diseases: A Melting pot for the Regulation of Brain Immune Responses.             (abst – 2015) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25601726
     
    N-stearoyltyrosine protects primary cortical neurons against Aβ(1-40)-induced injury through inhibiting endocannabinoid degradation           (abst – 2015) http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0024320515000521
     
    Cannabis-based medicine reduces multiple pathological processes in AβPP/PS1 mice.   (abst - 2015)
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25125475
     
    How Medical Marijuana's Chemicals May Protect Cells                  (news – 2015) http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-medical-marijuana-s-chemicals-may-protect-cells/
     
     
     
    TAKE YOUR OMEGA 3 TO KEEP YOUR ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM HEALTHY!!!! Your body can't properly make CB1 receptors (the ones that get you high!) without Omega 3!
     
    Nutritional omega-3 deficiency abolishes endocannabinoid-mediated neuronal functions.   (abst – 2011)           http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21278728
     
    Here's the key sentence (n-3 is “SciSpeak” for Omega 3)-  “In n-3-deficient mice, presynaptic cannabinoid CB(1) receptors (CB(1)Rs) normally responding to endocannabinoids were uncoupled from their effector G(i/o) proteins.” 
     
    "Uncoupled" CB receptors are like a stereo speaker with a loose wire- everything is there, but "no music"! They can't get you high, or heal you! We get WAY too much Omega 6 in our diets and not enough Omega 3! This throws our bodies out of balance and makes us sick! You need some Omega 6, but too much does "bad things"!  Read these!
     
    How too much omega-6 and not enough omega-3 is making us sick 
    http://chriskresser.com/how-too-much-omega-6-and-not-enough-omega-3-is-making-us-sick
     
    The importance of the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 essential fatty acids.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12442909
    (Relax!   It's just the short abstract- not the full study   :laughing: )
     
    Good Oils and Fatty Substances http://www.math.ucsd.edu/~ebender/Health%20&%20Nutrition/Nutrition/oil_good.html
    (a nice little chart to help you figure out what oils to use!)
     
     
    Love you all! Stay high!  :smoke:    Stay healthy! :love:
     
     
    Granny
     
  4. WOW!
    Thanks Much
    Stiggy
     
  5. :laughing: And a well deserved bowl it is. Once a gain, a big ol' thank you Granny :yay:
    H....I think I'll join you :smoke:
     
  6. Finally scientists gain common sense
     
  7. Thanks for posting this, Granny. - Smoke that bowl.. ;)

    I've been wondering about this lately and I'm glad to hear that there's proof of this.

    E
     

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