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Uh-oh, cannabis makes your brain age faster than alcohol? Stoner apologists won’t be happy about this... I predict a wave of anecdotal evidence and broscience a

Uh-oh, cannabis makes your brain age faster than alcohol? Stoner apologists won’t be happy about this... I predict a wave of anecdotal evidence and broscience along the lines of: - “but it cured my depression” - “nobody dies of cannabis overdose, but many people die from alcohol poisoning, checkmate!” - “but it makes me sleep well, and sleeping is healthy” - “it can cure cancer, but big pharma doesn’t want you to know”

deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
thatcat 8y ago
Speaking of broscience - that sure is a nice graphic they made, but the article they cited notes that they essentially defined brain aging themselves using their model and found it associated "alcohol use, cannabis use, anxiety, bipolar, schizophrenia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and in men"; but their pretty graphic leaves out being a man as a source of brain aging in their graphic for some reason.
bitL 8y ago
Maybe it cures depression because it burns those cells contributing most to it, which is measured as aging? (maybe /s, who knows?)
trisomy21 8y ago
You sound like you could use a joint.
monetus 8y ago
Please don't troll on hn. Neuroplasticity seems real; I have trouble seeing how encouraging anger will benefit any of us here.
- zeristor 8y ago
  But does anger increase brain aging?
coldtea 8y ago
>I predict a wave of anecdotal evidence and broscience along the lines of: - “but it cured my depression” How's that laughable? If cannabis can indeed help with depression that might mean more for the quality of life for a person despite "making their brain age faster". Besides this "faster brain aging" could still be at an insignificant amount. As in anything, there are tradeoffs. Besides, as with any study, including the "largest" ones, this should be taken with a grain of salt, until results are solidified and go from mere research to active recommendations and common medical practices.
- SinePylot 8y ago
  Excellent points.
- andai 8y ago
  Anecdotal: It didn't cure my depression but certainly helped me manage it. It was the only thing that made the depression subside for long enough to concentrate and get real work done. Major Caveat: My brain chemistry has changed over time, and the last 10 times I've smoked have all been horrible, indescribable paranoia and anxiety I wouldn't wish upon anyone. (Fun fact: pure THC injected into a healthy adult predictably causes psychosis.) Used to recommend highly, now highly dis-recommend until the genetic testing becomes available and widespread. For some people it's the only thing that helps. For others it might just be the worst thing a person could do to themselves. Re: Correlation != Causation Yes, certainly. However, observing myself and others, I see a definite worsening of anxiety and paranoia after smoking. Yes, it depends on the person, what you're smoking, etc. (THC vs CBD (apparently a potent anti-psychotic) is very fascinating and I look forward to more research in this area) The take-home point is that there are people who should not be smoking at all, and this is something I really don't hear mentioned enough.
  - thisacctforreal 8y ago
    I'm looking forward to the research that will come out of Canada after the upcoming legalisation :)
Passthepeas 8y ago
I'm sure it sounds like a broken record at this point, but "correlation =/= causation". It is possible that many that abuse cannabis are also more likely to engage in other activities that could contribute to brain aging. Of course it does not mean there is not causation either, but nonetheless more research is needed to be able to say definitively that it contributes more to brain aging than alcohol. Also as others have pointed out, the researchers definition of "abuse" is not defined. Edit: also would like to add that it is quite common for people with mental illness to self medicate with cannabis, there are enough variables here to make one want to pull their hair out
sigi45 8y ago
Why are you against those arguments? Why are you betitle all of them as broscience? What's your beer with marijuana?

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]

thatcat 8y ago

Speaking of broscience - that sure is a nice graphic they made, but the article they cited notes that they essentially defined brain aging themselves using their model and found it associated "alcohol use, cannabis use, anxiety, bipolar, schizophrenia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and in men"; but their pretty graphic leaves out being a man as a source of brain aging in their graphic for some reason.

bitL 8y ago

Maybe it cures depression because it burns those cells contributing most to it, which is measured as aging? (maybe /s, who knows?)

trisomy21 8y ago

You sound like you could use a joint.

monetus 8y ago

Please don't troll on hn. Neuroplasticity seems real; I have trouble seeing how encouraging anger will benefit any of us here.

zeristor 8y ago
But does anger increase brain aging?

coldtea 8y ago

>I predict a wave of anecdotal evidence and broscience along the lines of: - “but it cured my depression” How's that laughable? If cannabis can indeed help with depression that might mean more for the quality of life for a person despite "making their brain age faster". Besides this "faster brain aging" could still be at an insignificant amount. As in anything, there are tradeoffs. Besides, as with any study, including the "largest" ones, this should be taken with a grain of salt, until results are solidified and go from mere research to active recommendations and common medical practices.

SinePylot 8y ago
Excellent points.
andai 8y ago
Anecdotal: It didn't cure my depression but certainly helped me manage it. It was the only thing that made the depression subside for long enough to concentrate and get real work done. Major Caveat: My brain chemistry has changed over time, and the last 10 times I've smoked have all been horrible, indescribable paranoia and anxiety I wouldn't wish upon anyone. (Fun fact: pure THC injected into a healthy adult predictably causes psychosis.) Used to recommend highly, now highly dis-recommend until the genetic testing becomes available and widespread. For some people it's the only thing that helps. For others it might just be the worst thing a person could do to themselves. Re: Correlation != Causation Yes, certainly. However, observing myself and others, I see a definite worsening of anxiety and paranoia after smoking. Yes, it depends on the person, what you're smoking, etc. (THC vs CBD (apparently a potent anti-psychotic) is very fascinating and I look forward to more research in this area) The take-home point is that there are people who should not be smoking at all, and this is something I really don't hear mentioned enough.
- thisacctforreal 8y ago
  I'm looking forward to the research that will come out of Canada after the upcoming legalisation :)

Passthepeas 8y ago

I'm sure it sounds like a broken record at this point, but "correlation =/= causation". It is possible that many that abuse cannabis are also more likely to engage in other activities that could contribute to brain aging. Of course it does not mean there is not causation either, but nonetheless more research is needed to be able to say definitively that it contributes more to brain aging than alcohol. Also as others have pointed out, the researchers definition of "abuse" is not defined. Edit: also would like to add that it is quite common for people with mental illness to self medicate with cannabis, there are enough variables here to make one want to pull their hair out

sigi45 8y ago

Why are you against those arguments? Why are you betitle all of them as broscience? What's your beer with marijuana?