Teen cannabis use linked to flattened cognitive development in large U.S. study
New research indicates that adolescents who begin using cannabis may experience slower cognitive development than their non-using peers. While future users often start with slightly higher cognitive scores in late childhood, their rate of mental improvement falls behind.
A significant study, published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, has found that adolescents who begin using cannabis may experience a slower pace of cognitive development compared to their non-using peers. The research, led by Natasha E. Wade from the University of California, San Diego, utilized extensive data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, which tracks the development of youth across the United States.
The study included up to 11,036 participants aged 9 to 17, focusing on various cognitive skills such as working memory, verbal recall, and visuospatial processing. The findings showed that while younger teens who used cannabis initially scored slightly higher on cognitive tests, their cognitive improvement slowed down as they aged, ultimately resulting in worse performance than non-users by ages 15 to 17.
This slowed cognitive trajectory was particularly evident in episodic memory, with a large effect size, and working memory, with a medium-sized effect size. The researchers also conducted a smaller analysis of hair toxicology tests, which indicated that teens with recent THC exposure had reduced episodic memory improvement compared to those with no cannabinoids in their hair.
While the differences were generally small, the authors emphasized that even minor effects could have significant real-world consequences, such as impacts on schooling and driving abilities.
Written by urgent.news from PsyPost's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
