Years of , Smoking
Marijuana, May Affect
the Ability to
Recall Words.
A new study suggests that for every 5 years
a person smokes marijuana, their ability
to recall common words declines. .
The study, published in 'JAMA Internal
Medicine,' looked at the marijuana
habits of people ages 18 to 30...
... and then followed up 25 years later.
While 84% of participants said
they used marijuana initially, less than 12% reported still
smoking 25 years later.
In the follow-up,
participants took
standard cognitive
tests that measured: , Verbal memory
(word recall), .
processing speed
(like solving simple
math problems), .
... and higher-level skills that indicate how well different parts of the brain are connecting.
According to the study,
the longer people used
marijuana, the worse they
did on all three fronts. .
Taking into account other
factors that could affect the
results, researchers say only
the association between
long-term marijuana use and
verbal memory persisted. .
Specifically, the study
suggests that for every
five years someone
smokes, they can
recall one less word
from a list of 15 words.
The study authors say they plan to invite
participants back for a 30-year visit to
undergo further cognitive testing
