Cannabis and Cognition: Connecting the Dots towards the Understanding of the Relationship
Marco Colizzi, Sarah Tosato, Mirella Ruggeri
Brain Sciences February 27, 2020 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10030133 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key findings | Earlier age of use, high-frequency and high-potency cannabis use, sustained use, and synthetic cannabinoids are correlated with a higher likelihood of severe and persistent executive function impairments. |
Abstract
Several studies have advanced the understanding of the effects of cannabis on cognitive function. A comprehensive reappraisal of such literature may help in drawing conclusions about the potential risks associated with cannabis use. In summary, the evidence suggests that earlier age of use, high-frequency and high-potency cannabis use, as well as sustained use over time and use of synthetic cannabinoids, are all correlated with a higher likelihood of developing potentially severe and persistent executive function impairments. While the exact mechanisms underlying the adverse effects of cannabis on cognition are not completely clear, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) studies support the presence of both structural and functional alterations associated with cannabis use. Cognitive dysfunction is also a core feature of many neuropsychiatric disorders and care must be taken regarding the effects of cannabis use in these patient populations. Cognitive impairments affect patients’ daily functions, sociability, and long-term outcome, posing elevated economic, social, and clinical burdens. There is, thus, a compelling case for implementing behavioral and cognitive rehabilitation therapies for these patients, as well as investigating the endocannabinoid system in the development of new psychopharmacological treatments.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Causal association between cannabis and psychosis: examination of the evidence | 2004 | Review | |
| Cannabis sativa: A comprehensive ethnopharmacological review of a medicinal plant with a long history. General (historical and pharmacological review) | 2018 | Review | |
| Psychiatric effects of cannabis | 2001 | Review | |
| Beyond THC: The New Generation of Cannabinoid Designer Drugs | 2011 | Review | |
| Cannabidiol, a Cannabis sativa constituent, as an antipsychotic drug | 2006 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cites 7
- Cognitive outcomes associated with long-term, regular, recreational cannabis use in adults: A meta-analysis. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology August 1, 2020
- Previous cannabis exposure modulates the acute effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on attentional salience and fear processing. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology December 2018
- Cannabis use and the development of tolerance: a systematic review of human evidence. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews October 2018
- Modulation of acute effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on psychotomimetic effects, cognition and brain function by previous cannabis exposure. European Neuropsychopharmacology July 1, 2018
- Cannabis and psychosis: what do we know and what should we do? The British Journal of Psychiatry April 1, 2018
and 2 more in the library