Habits That Harm Your Brain

Marijuana is a hot topic in the media today, but it’s important to remember its known effects on your health — specifically, your brain. Past research found that exposure to marijuana during development may cause long-term and even permanent adverse brain changes and negative effects on brain development if users begin in their adolescence. Adolescents who regularly use marijuana may have impaired neural connectivity in some brain regions. These regions are involved in a broad range of functions, including memory, learning and impulse control. Marijuana may affect how the brain builds connections between these areas. Marijuana may also lead to or worsen attention problems in people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or similar conditions.