Age-related differences in the impact of cannabis use on the brain and cognition: a systematic review
European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience January 24, 2019 Claire M. Gorey, Lauren Kuhns, Eleni Smaragdi et al. 118 citations
Adolescence is a period of both risk and resilience regarding the harms of cannabis use. This systematic review examined whether age (adolescent vs. adult) moderates the relationship between cannabis exposure and cognition, drawing on both human and animal studies. The review does not offer a conclusive answer but generates four hypotheses: general executive functioning appears more impaired in adolescent frequent users than in adult frequent users; age effects may be strongest among very heavy and dependent users; craving and inhibitory control may not decrease as much post-intoxication in adolescents; and adolescents' vulnerability to reduced learning following cannabis use may not persist after sustained abstinence. If confirmed, these hypotheses could inform policy and prevention.