smoking and brain damage

[MedusaGrower]

I have read that smoking tobacco heavily over time can exacerbate alcohol related brain damage. Does inhaling smoke on a regular basis age the brain in such a way that one may experience conditions such as dementia or parkinson's or other complications at an early age? Do the combustion chemicals in marijuana smoke deterioriate your brain slightly? I can live with the coughing but it scares me to think that my I am damaging my brain, even if it is only ever so slightly. I want to be sharp in my old age. Is my concern way off?

[the image reaper]

I've been smoking pot for 40+ years, and cigarettes for about 20, and I ain't ..... what were we talkin' about ? ... dammit :wtf:
P.S., ya don't wanna be 'sharp' in your old age, trust me ... the less you can comprehend, the happier you'll be :D

[Dutch Pimp]

women are the leading cause of brain damage in men

...the other stuff is small... POTatoes....:kisslove:

[8182KSKUSH]

Drain Bamage! Nah! Framalama....
uh..?

[the image reaper]

Drain Bamage! Nah! Framalama....
uh..?

framalama dingdong :S2:

[a cloud of marijuana]

Cannabis is now being used to treat bipolar, schizophrenia, and soon Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and Huntington's disease.

Cannabis is a drug, that happens to protect the nervous system and brain.

Granted, it's medicinal uses are usually only gained if you eat the cannabis rather then smoke it.

[Storm Crow]

Effects of frequent marijuana use on brain tissue volume and composition
Effects of frequent marijuana use on brain tissue volume and composition (http://www.ukcia.org/research/EffectsOfFrequentMarrijuanaUseOnBrainTissueVolumeA ndComposition.htm)


Findings of a longitudinal study of effects on IQ
Current and former marijuana use: preliminary findings of a longitudinal study of effects on IQ in young adults -- Fried et al. 166 (7): 887 -- Canadian Medical Association Journal (http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/166/7/887)

Heavy cannabis use without long-term effect on global intelligence
IACM-Bulletin (http://www.cannabis-med.org/english/bulletin/ww_en_db_cannabis_artikel.php?id=115#2)

Marijuana does not dent IQ permanently
Marijuana does not dent IQ permanently - 08 April 2002 - New Scientist (http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn2140-marijuana-does-not-dent-iq-permanently.html)

Cannabis use and cognitive decline in persons under 65 years of age
Cannabis use and cognitive decline in persons under 65 years of age (http://www.ukcia.org/research/CannabisUseAndCognitiveDecline.html)

Differential Effects of THC or CBD-rich Cannabis Extracts on Working Memory in Rats
http://www.ukcia.org/research/THCCBDWorkingMemory.pdf

Neurocognitive performance during acute THC intoxication in heavy and occasional cannabis users.
Unbound MEDLINE | Neurocognitive performance during acute THC intoxication in heavy and occasional cannabis users. Journal article (http://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/ebm/record/18719045/full_citation/Neurocognitive_performance_during_acute_THC_intoxi cation_in_heavy_and_occasional_cannabis_users_)

Non-acute (residual) neurocognitive effects of cannabis use: a meta-analytic study.
Non-acute (residual) neurocognitive effects of can...[J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2003] - PubMed Result (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12901774)

Review: executive functioning and cannabis use.
Unbound MEDLINE | [Review: executive functioning and cannabis use.] Journal article (http://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/ebm/record/18373021/abstract/%5BReview:_executive_functioning_and_cannabis_use_ %5D)

Neuropsychological Performance in Long-term Cannabis Users
Neuropsychological Performance in Long-term Cannabis Users (http://www.ukcia.org/research/NeuropsychologicalPerformanceInLong-termCannabisUsers.htm)

Letting your mind get lazy is far more a threat to your intellect than toking! Keep your mind active (try playing freerice.com) and your brain has a much better chance of being sharp when you are my age (dang near 62).

Granny :hippy:

[thedeadone]

Thanks Storm

[beachguy in thongs]

Fourteen and-a-half years ago, I suffered brain damage to the extent where I couldn't control my right-side after coming out of a coma. I've been smoking herb for fourteen years, all the while, my brain was rebuilding new pathways. In the nineteen years before it, I smoked daily for four months at a college, three times in high school, and, several times in the months preceding it.

I had to learn how to walk, talk, eat, etc., again. A little over two months later, I smoked herb. If it did do any damage, my progress would've been stunted fourteen years ago.

[Wolf420]

Cannabis is now being used to treat bipolar, schizophrenia, and soon Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and Huntington's disease.

Cannabis is a drug, that happens to protect the nervous system and brain.

Granted, it's medicinal uses are usually only gained if you eat the cannabis rather then smoke it.


Hmmm seems to me I get the benefits by smoking it too.

[Storm Crow]

Best one, too- Seems that cannabis PROTECTS the brain when indulging in alcohol! So I'd say "no", cannabis won't exacerbate alcohol brain damage. :thumbsup:


Cannabidiol, Antioxidants, and Diuretics in Reversing Binge Ethanol-Induced Neurotoxicity
Comparison of Cannabidiol, Antioxidants, and Diuretics in Reversing Binge Ethanol-Induced Neurotoxicity -- Hamelink et al. 314 (2): 780 -- Journal of Pharmacology And Experimental Therapeutics (http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/314/2/780?maxtoshow=&HITS=&hits=&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=cannabidiol%2Bantioxidants%2Bdiuretics%2B neurotoxicity&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT)

[babygiraffe]

Where ya get the giraffe? love to have her
babygiraffe:D

[jackmillions]

AFAIK:

Alcohol is a poison and causes brain swelling. Over time with prolonged use there is irreversible damage, aka "wet brain."

Nothing in marijuana operates like that.