Cannabis use abnormally lowers down blood flow in the brain: A new study revealed

A new study published in the latest Journal of Alzheimer's Disease has revealed that marijuana use affects blood flow virtually in every part of the brain. New scans of 1,000 cannabis users show marijuana users have widespread build-ups or restrictions of blood flow.

Abnormal blood levels are recorded in areas affected by Alzheimer’s disease such as hippocampus.

Many of those who are opposing rapid legalization of recreational and medical marijuana in US see these findings as an ominous warning.

These research findings seem supporting White House's Surgeon General, Dr Vivek Gupta, who warned few weeks earlier, legalization is moving faster than research. 

The research was based on data of 26,268 patients across the US between 1995 and 2015. Out of these patients, 1000 were marijuana users.

The researchers at Amen Clinics witness a stark difference in blood flow levels comparing marijuana users’ brain scans with healthy controls.

Every marijuana users scans revealed that they had significantly low blood flow in the right hippocampus compared to the controls.

It is believed that marijuana use interfere memory formation by restricting activity in this part of brain.

Co-author Dr Elisabeth Jorandby said even she was shocked by the findings, despite dealing with marijuana patients on a routine basis. 

'As a physician who routinely sees marijuana users, what struck me was not only the global reduction in blood flow in the marijuana users brains , but that the hippocampus was the most affected region due to its role in memory and Alzheimer's disease,' she said. 

'Our research has proven that marijuana users have lower cerebral blood flow than non-users. 

'Second, the most predictive region separating these two groups is low blood flow in the hippocampus on concentration brain SPECT imaging. 

'This work suggests that marijuana use has damaging influences in the brain – particularly regions important in memory and learning and known to be affected by Alzheimer's.'

Dr George Perry, editor in chief of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease said: 'Open use of marijuana, through legalization, will reveal the wide range of marijuana's benefits and threats to human health. 

'This study indicates troubling effects on the hippocampus that may be the harbingers of brain damage.'

Dr Daniel Amen, founder of Amen Clinics, said: 'Our research demonstrates that marijuana can have significant negative effects on brain function. 

'The media has given the general impression that marijuana is a safe recreational drug, this research directly challenges that notion. 

'In another new study just released, researchers showed that marijuana use tripled the risk of psychosis. Caution is clearly in order.'