Can cannabis reduce the ageing of brain? As per new research done on mice, long-term, low-dose use of the active ingredient of cannabis has an anti-ageing effect.

The study done by Bonn University in Germany has found that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main therapeutic ingredient in cannabis, restores cognitive abilities and synapse density in old mice.&nbsp;

"We have now been able to show that treatment with THC has a tissue-dependent and dual effect on mTOR signaling and the metabolome," said Dr Andras Bilkei-Gorzo a researcher who conducted the study along with an international team of scientists.

Watch: Gravitas: Medical use of Cannabis now legal in Ukraine

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To understand what it means, it's important to know about two specific processes of the brain that affect ageing.

One is synaptic plasticity, which is the ability of the brain to change neuronal connections. Less synaptic plasticity is a sign of ageing.

The other is mTOR, or Mechanistic target of rapamycin, signalling. The mTOR signalling pathways regulate growth and metabolism in animal cells. The mTOR activity can be reduced through a low-calorie diet, intensive physical activity or pharmacological treatment.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/daily-marijuana-use-surpasses-daily-drinking-in-the-us-says-study-724533">Also read: Daily marijuana use surpasses daily drinking in the US, says study</a>

<h2>How the study was done</h2>

Two groups of mice were used in the study,&nbsp;young ones around four months old, and older ones aged around 18 months.&nbsp;

Some mice in each age group received a daily low dose of THC across a period of 28 days, and the effects were compared to age-matched controls.

The mice treated with THC showed a boost in mTOR activity in the brain and the production of more of the proteins necessary to form new synapses between neurons.

The mTOR activity in fat tissue dropped in the same way that it does with a calorie-controlled diet: In other words, the body starts to dial down some of its production processes in ways that have previously been shown to slow down biological ageing too, said a release on the study.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/us-man-gets-high-on-edibles-attempts-sex-with-flight-attendant-opens-door-mid-air-746543">Also read: US man gets high on edibles, attempts sex with flight attendant, opens door mid-air</a>

"We concluded that long-term THC treatment initially has a cognition-enhancing effect by increasing energy and synaptic protein production in the brain, followed by an anti-ageing effect by decreasing mTOR activity and metabolic processes in the periphery," said Bilkei-Gorzo.

He suggested that the findings of the study could potentially pave the way for future anti-ageing treatments. "Our study suggests that a dual effect on mTOR activity and the metabolome could be the basis for an effective anti-ageing and cognition-enhancing drug."

(With inputs from agencies)

Can cannabis reduce the ageing of brain? As per new research done on mice, long-term, low-dose use of the active ingredient of cannabis has an anti-ageing effect.

Can cannabis reduce the ageing of brain? As per new research done on mice, long-term, low-dose use of the active ingredient of cannabis has an anti-ageing effect. The study done by Bonn University in Germany has found that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main therapeutic ingredient in cannabis, restores cognitive abilities and synapse density in old mice. "We have now been able to show that treatment with THC has a tissue-dependent and dual effect on mTOR signaling and the metabolome," said Dr Andras Bilkei-Gorzo a researcher who conducted the study along with an international team of scientists. Watch: Gravitas: Medical use of Cannabis now legal in Ukraine × To understand what it means, it's important to know about two specific processes of the brain that affect ageing. One is synaptic plasticity, which is the ability of the brain to change neuronal connections. Less synaptic plasticity is a sign of ageing. The other is mTOR, or Mechanistic target of rapamycin, signalling. The mTOR signalling pathways regulate growth and metabolism in animal cells. The mTOR activity can be reduced through a low-calorie diet, intensive physical activity or pharmacological treatment. Also read: Daily marijuana use surpasses daily drinking in the US, says study How the study was done Two groups of mice were used in the study, young ones around four months old, and older ones aged around 18 months. Some mice in each age group received a daily low dose of THC across a period of 28 days, and the effects were compared to age-matched controls. The mice treated with THC showed a boost in mTOR activity in the brain and the production of more of the proteins necessary to form new synapses between neurons. The mTOR activity in fat tissue dropped in the same way that it does with a calorie-controlled diet: In other words, the body starts to dial down some of its production processes in ways that have previously been shown to slow down biological ageing too, said a release on the study. Also read: US man gets high on edibles, attempts sex with flight attendant, opens door mid-air "We concluded that long-term THC treatment initially has a cognition-enhancing effect by increasing energy and synaptic protein production in the brain, followed by an anti-ageing effect by decreasing mTOR activity and metabolic processes in the periphery," said Bilkei-Gorzo. He suggested that the findings of the study could potentially pave the way for future anti-ageing treatments. "Our study suggests that a dual effect on mTOR activity and the metabolome could be the basis for an effective anti-ageing and cognition-enhancing drug." (With inputs from agencies)

Cannabis found to have anti-ageing effect on brains of mice. So can pot make you younger?

A new study has found that the usage of marijuana and psychedelic substances among young Americans reached record highs last year. In 2021, 43% of the 5,000 young individuals aged 19 to 30 who participated in the survey reported having used marijuana in the previous year, up from 34% in 2016 and 29% in 2011, according to the University of Michigan's Monitoring the Future study.

In 2021, 29% of respondents said they had used marijuana in the previous month, compared to 21% in 2016 and 17% in 2011.

The percentage of people who use marijuana daily increased from 6% in 2011 to 8% in 2016 to 11% in 2021.

The National Institutes of Health-funded study's authors stated that the 2021 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-east-asia/thailands-health-minister-advises-pot-smoking-tourists-to-not-visit-the-country-507895">marijuana consumption</a> statistics represented the "highest levels ever documented since these trends were started studied in 1988."

Hover on the visualisation for data

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In terms of hallucinogen use, 8% of young adults reported that they had used LSD, MDMA, mescaline, peyote, "shrooms," or PCP during the previous year, up from 5% in 2016 and 3% in 2011.

A little less than 82% of those polled said they had consumed alcohol in the preceding year, compared to 83.5% in 2016 and 83.8% in 2011.

Although recreational cannabis is now legal in nearly 20 US states, the study did not provide any explanations for the growth in marijuana usage among young adults.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Also WATCH |&nbsp;Joe Biden's student loan deductions to affect already skyrocketing inflation?

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A new study has found that the usage of marijuana and psychedelic substances among young Americans reached record highs last year. In 2021, 43% of the 5,000 young individuals aged 19 to 30 who participated in the survey reported having used marijuana in the previous year, up from 34% in 2016 and 29% in 2011, according to the University of Michigan's Monitoring the Future study.

A new study has found that the usage of marijuana and psychedelic substances among young Americans reached record highs last year. In 2021, 43% of the 5,000 young individuals aged 19 to 30 who participated in the survey reported having used marijuana in the previous year, up from 34% in 2016 and 29% in 2011, according to the University of Michigan's Monitoring the Future study. In 2021, 29% of respondents said they had used marijuana in the previous month, compared to 21% in 2016 and 17% in 2011. The percentage of people who use marijuana daily increased from 6% in 2011 to 8% in 2016 to 11% in 2021. The National Institutes of Health-funded study's authors stated that the 2021 marijuana consumption statistics represented the "highest levels ever documented since these trends were started studied in 1988." Hover on the visualisation for data × In terms of hallucinogen use, 8% of young adults reported that they had used LSD, MDMA, mescaline, peyote, "shrooms," or PCP during the previous year, up from 5% in 2016 and 3% in 2011. A little less than 82% of those polled said they had consumed alcohol in the preceding year, compared to 83.5% in 2016 and 83.8% in 2011. Although recreational cannabis is now legal in nearly 20 US states, the study did not provide any explanations for the growth in marijuana usage among young adults. (With inputs from agencies) Also WATCH | Joe Biden's student loan deductions to affect already skyrocketing inflation?

Marijuana use on the rise among young Americans: Study

Researchers have revealed preliminary evidence that using smartphone sensors, it is feasible to detect if someone is high on cannabis.

The method uses information from the owner's smartphone to determine whether they are inebriated after taking cannabis. 
 
The study was based on a survey of 57 young individuals aged 18 to 25 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and was published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

The subjects said they used cannabis at least twice a week, and the researchers examined data from their phones to determine if that was enough to figure out when they used it.&nbsp;

“A smartphone sensor, much like what is used in GPS systems, might be a way to determine whether or not someone is intoxicated after consuming marijuana,” notes a study write-up posted on Rutgers Today.

In order to detect intoxication, the accelerometer - the phone's motion sensor – and GPS data were crucial.

The study was able to correctly identify 60 percent of the 451 cannabis usage episodes using only time factors such as day of the week and time of day.

When time features and smartphone sensor data were included in the analysis, the accuracy increased to 90%.&nbsp;

Intoxication with cannabis has been linked to decreased response times, which can influence performance at work or school, as well as altering driving behaviour, which can lead to injuries or fatalities.

Existing screening methods, such as blood, urine, and saliva tests, have limitations as indications of cannabis intoxication and impairment in daily life.

(With inputs from agencies)

Researchers have revealed preliminary evidence that using smartphone sensors, it is feasible to detect if someone is high on cannabis. The method uses information from the owner's smartphone to determine whether they are inebriated after taking cannabis.

Researchers have revealed preliminary evidence that using smartphone sensors, it is feasible to detect if someone is high on cannabis. The method uses information from the owner's smartphone to determine whether they are inebriated after taking cannabis. The study was based on a survey of 57 young individuals aged 18 to 25 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and was published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence. The subjects said they used cannabis at least twice a week, and the researchers examined data from their phones to determine if that was enough to figure out when they used it. “A smartphone sensor, much like what is used in GPS systems, might be a way to determine whether or not someone is intoxicated after consuming marijuana,” notes a study write-up posted on Rutgers Today. In order to detect intoxication, the accelerometer - the phone's motion sensor – and GPS data were crucial. The study was able to correctly identify 60 percent of the 451 cannabis usage episodes using only time factors such as day of the week and time of day. When time features and smartphone sensor data were included in the analysis, the accuracy increased to 90%. Intoxication with cannabis has been linked to decreased response times, which can influence performance at work or school, as well as altering driving behaviour, which can lead to injuries or fatalities. Existing screening methods, such as blood, urine, and saliva tests, have limitations as indications of cannabis intoxication and impairment in daily life. (With inputs from agencies)

Smoking weed? Your phone can detect if you’re high on marijuana

Some refer to it as magic, while others are more likely to call it a menace, but marijuana has remained a topic of political and social contention for decades now. Its supporters claim that the plant’s classification as a drug is misleading, while law enforcement agencies continue to perceive it as a “gateway drug”. 
 
In the midst of this debate about its consumption, a lot of the plant’s benefits and drawbacks are buried. Marijuana is known by an array of terms that vary from culture to culture. Pot, weed, greens, ganja, Mary Jane, grass are among many unofficial designations given to the plant. Most people consume it by rolling the dried plant into a cigarette and smoking it, which causes a “high”.

<img alt="marijuana" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="448b58ec-f2d3-4379-baf8-83c5814c3b99" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/3_47.jpg" />

What's with marijuana? 
 
Smoking isn’t the only way to consume the plant. In countries that have legalised it, marijuana is now consumed in food items such as brownies and chocolates, effectively taking away the serious dangers associated with smoking, including lung cancer. For those who fixate on the habit of smoking, vaping alternatives have flooded the markets. 
 
The intoxicating agent in marijuana is known as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. The plant can hold up to 500 other chemicals which include over 100 compounds that share their chemical make-up with THC and are known as “cannabinoids”.&nbsp;

Where do countries stand on marijuana? 
 
Recently, Mexico moved forward with the pilot step to legalising marijuana – making the country the largest market for pot. Over the last decade, many countries have made radical changes to legalise marijuana. Even then, a lot of misinformation – both positive and negative, continues to plague the limited knowledge about the “drug”. In Mexico, the legalisation could help with not only regulation of the plant and its derivatives but could also facilitate in limiting the control drug cartels currently hold over the growth and selling of marijuana.

<img alt="pot" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e9dbe0e6-1f56-44c3-a371-382a2fc08a9e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/1_72.jpg" /> 
 
In the neighbouring United States, the situation is extremely complex. While many states have relaxed marijuana penalties, others continue to view it along the same lines as lethal drugs like cocaine, crystal meth, and crack – which are known to put people’s lives in dangers. Marijuana, on the other hand, has recorded zero deaths from its use. In the US, majority of the&nbsp;penalties associated with pot use are witnessed among Black and Brown communities, something acknowledged by US President Joe Biden, who has also shown interest in a sweeping national decriminalisation bill. But many within the country are now seeking long-term reforms instead of simple legalisations, which could help those who were imprisoned under anti-marijuana laws.

Panic is attributed as the worst-case scenario in terms of overconsumption of marijuana, but it has never been recorded to have caused serious harm to a person’s health. An overdose of marijuana is scientifically not possible, which has compelled many to back recent calls for its decriminalisation. Now, many countries allow medical use of marijuana while prohibiting recreational use. 
 
According to the United Nations 1961 treaty called “Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs”, pot is classified as a Schedule 1 drug, implying it is an addictive drug with serious risks of abuse.

Where is marijuana legal? 
 
A handful of countries where recreational use of marijuana is permitted are Canada, Georgia, South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, along with 18 US states and the Australian Capital Territory. 
 
In the Netherlands, the usage of marijuana is allowed in licensed coffee shops that have become the face of country’s tourism. But in the absence of any legal regulations, it’ll always be unclear where the dried plant is sourced from. Essentially, even in countries that allow recreational usage but do not permit growth, the sources still remain largely illegal due to which no quality control can be enforced. For long, activists have asked for marijuana to be marketed and regulated like alcohol, which they also claim is way more dangerous than pot.

<img alt="marijjuana" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="29b6a139-207e-4363-b515-f6c819ff92f4" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2_58.jpg" />

What's India's take on cannabis? 
 
In India, the use of marijuana is deeply embedded in culture. “Bhaang”, a drink made from marijuana is a yearly favourite when the festival of Holi kicks in even though recreational usage of pot remains illegal. Another form of consumption is through “resins” or “charas” wherein the plant is rubbed until it resembles a black sticky gum-like substance.&nbsp;

India’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, which was passed in 1985 allows the consumption of “bhaang” for it is whipped up using leaves instead of the flowery tops.

<img alt="Marijuana" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a1e74f7b-c2f9-4f5f-b185-2192588f702b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/4_17.jpg" /> 
 
A lot of countries are now attempting to scientifically understand the long-term effects of marijuana use. Some studies claim it can lead to higher risks of dementia, while others claim that it’s highly effective in regulation of anxiety. In many cases, cannabis has been able to neutralise cancer cells. Even then, not enough expansive data is available to reach concrete conclusions. But as countries continue to embrace the plant, more details about marijuana’s long-term benefits and risks will come to light. 
 
Until then, puff puff pass (or not)!

Some refer to it as magic, while others are more likely to call it a menace, but marijuana has remained a topic of political and social contention for decades now.

Some refer to it as magic, while others are more likely to call it a menace, but marijuana has remained a topic of political and social contention for decades now. Its supporters claim that the plant’s classification as a drug is misleading, while law enforcement agencies continue to perceive it as a “gateway drug”. In the midst of this debate about its consumption, a lot of the plant’s benefits and drawbacks are buried. Marijuana is known by an array of terms that vary from culture to culture. Pot, weed, greens, ganja, Mary Jane, grass are among many unofficial designations given to the plant. Most people consume it by rolling the dried plant into a cigarette and smoking it, which causes a “high”. What's with marijuana? Smoking isn’t the only way to consume the plant. In countries that have legalised it, marijuana is now consumed in food items such as brownies and chocolates, effectively taking away the serious dangers associated with smoking, including lung cancer. For those who fixate on the habit of smoking, vaping alternatives have flooded the markets. The intoxicating agent in marijuana is known as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. The plant can hold up to 500 other chemicals which include over 100 compounds that share their chemical make-up with THC and are known as “cannabinoids”. Where do countries stand on marijuana? Recently, Mexico moved forward with the pilot step to legalising marijuana – making the country the largest market for pot. Over the last decade, many countries have made radical changes to legalise marijuana. Even then, a lot of misinformation – both positive and negative, continues to plague the limited knowledge about the “drug”. In Mexico, the legalisation could help with not only regulation of the plant and its derivatives but could also facilitate in limiting the control drug cartels currently hold over the growth and selling of marijuana. In the neighbouring United States, the situation is extremely complex. While many states have relaxed marijuana penalties, others continue to view it along the same lines as lethal drugs like cocaine, crystal meth, and crack – which are known to put people’s lives in dangers. Marijuana, on the other hand, has recorded zero deaths from its use. In the US, majority of the penalties associated with pot use are witnessed among Black and Brown communities, something acknowledged by US President Joe Biden, who has also shown interest in a sweeping national decriminalisation bill. But many within the country are now seeking long-term reforms instead of simple legalisations, which could help those who were imprisoned under anti-marijuana laws. Panic is attributed as the worst-case scenario in terms of overconsumption of marijuana, but it has never been recorded to have caused serious harm to a person’s health. An overdose of marijuana is scientifically not possible, which has compelled many to back recent calls for its decriminalisation. Now, many countries allow medical use of marijuana while prohibiting recreational use. According to the United Nations 1961 treaty called “Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs”, pot is classified as a Schedule 1 drug, implying it is an addictive drug with serious risks of abuse. Where is marijuana legal? A handful of countries where recreational use of marijuana is permitted are Canada, Georgia, South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, along with 18 US states and the Australian Capital Territory. In the Netherlands, the usage of marijuana is allowed in licensed coffee shops that have become the face of country’s tourism. But in the absence of any legal regulations, it’ll always be unclear where the dried plant is sourced from. Essentially, even in countries that allow recreational usage but do not permit growth, the sources still remain largely illegal due to which no quality control can be enforced. For long, activists have asked for marijuana to be marketed and regulated like alcohol, which they also claim is way more dangerous than pot. What's India's take on cannabis? In India, the use of marijuana is deeply embedded in culture. “Bhaang”, a drink made from marijuana is a yearly favourite when the festival of Holi kicks in even though recreational usage of pot remains illegal. Another form of consumption is through “resins” or “charas” wherein the plant is rubbed until it resembles a black sticky gum-like substance. India’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, which was passed in 1985 allows the consumption of “bhaang” for it is whipped up using leaves instead of the flowery tops. A lot of countries are now attempting to scientifically understand the long-term effects of marijuana use. Some studies claim it can lead to higher risks of dementia, while others claim that it’s highly effective in regulation of anxiety. In many cases, cannabis has been able to neutralise cancer cells. Even then, not enough expansive data is available to reach concrete conclusions. But as countries continue to embrace the plant, more details about marijuana’s long-term benefits and risks will come to light. Until then, puff puff pass (or not)!

Marijuana: Magic plant or menacing drug, legal or illegal? It's a 'highly' complex issue

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