Legalization of marijuana and alcohol is increasing in many countries. More and more studies are exploring the potential dangers of both. A new study shows that when it comes to brain health, alcohol proves more damaging.
Scientists at the University of Colorado review existing imagery data to see the effects of alcohol and cannabis or cannabis in the brain. Their findings linked alcohol consumption with significant long-term changes in brain structure.
Study leader Rachel Thayer from the Department of Psychology and Neurology together with her colleagues reported the results in the Journal of Addiction.
"It is estimated that about 22.2 million Americans use marijuana and it becomes the most commonly used 'drug,'" Thayer said, quoted by Medical News Today on Wednesday (11/7).
In the US, marijuana is increasingly legal for treatment and recreation. As a result of the law changes, researchers are trying to find out more about how marijuana can be beneficial to health, as well as what damage can be caused.
Last year for example, marijuana called can treat migraine. However, marijuana is also associated with the risk of psychosis in adolescents. Other research claims marijuana is worse than cigarettes for heart health.
For this latest study, Thayer and colleagues studied more about cannabis in influencing the brain. Fellow author Kent Hutchison of the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience noted the use of marijuana is associated with a decrease in the volume of the hippocampus in the cerebellum.
"The use of marijuana in adolescents can lead to bipolar symptoms," he said.
Brain imaging data shows marijuana affect white matter and gray matter in the brain, then compare it with alcohol. Gray matter is a tissue on the surface of the brain composed of nerve cell bodies, while white matter is a deeper brain tissue containing myelin nerve fibers, a prominent branch of nerve cells that send electrical impulses to cells and other tissues.
The team notes that any reduction in the size of white or gray matter can cause damage in brain function. The result is alcohol proven to be more powerful and worse than marijuana.
"The effect of cannabis is less than alcohol," Hutchison said.
Scientists at the University of Colorado review existing imagery data to see the effects of alcohol and cannabis or cannabis in the brain. Their findings linked alcohol consumption with significant long-term changes in brain structure.
Study leader Rachel Thayer from the Department of Psychology and Neurology together with her colleagues reported the results in the Journal of Addiction.
"It is estimated that about 22.2 million Americans use marijuana and it becomes the most commonly used 'drug,'" Thayer said, quoted by Medical News Today on Wednesday (11/7).
In the US, marijuana is increasingly legal for treatment and recreation. As a result of the law changes, researchers are trying to find out more about how marijuana can be beneficial to health, as well as what damage can be caused.
Last year for example, marijuana called can treat migraine. However, marijuana is also associated with the risk of psychosis in adolescents. Other research claims marijuana is worse than cigarettes for heart health.
For this latest study, Thayer and colleagues studied more about cannabis in influencing the brain. Fellow author Kent Hutchison of the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience noted the use of marijuana is associated with a decrease in the volume of the hippocampus in the cerebellum.
"The use of marijuana in adolescents can lead to bipolar symptoms," he said.
Brain imaging data shows marijuana affect white matter and gray matter in the brain, then compare it with alcohol. Gray matter is a tissue on the surface of the brain composed of nerve cell bodies, while white matter is a deeper brain tissue containing myelin nerve fibers, a prominent branch of nerve cells that send electrical impulses to cells and other tissues.
The team notes that any reduction in the size of white or gray matter can cause damage in brain function. The result is alcohol proven to be more powerful and worse than marijuana.
"The effect of cannabis is less than alcohol," Hutchison said.
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