Faculty Collaboration Database

Increased marijuana use and gender predict poorer cognitive functioning in adolescents and emerging adults. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2012 Jul;18(4):678-88

Date

05/23/2012

Pubmed ID

22613255

Pubmed Central ID

PMC3956124

DOI

10.1017/S1355617712000276

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84863706641 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   106 Citations

Abstract

This study sought to characterize neuropsychological functioning in MJ-using adolescents and emerging adults (ages 18-26) and to investigate whether gender moderated these effects. Data were collected from 59 teens and emerging adults including MJ users (n = 23, 56% female) and controls (n = 35, 50% female) aged 18-26 (M = 21 years). Exclusionary criteria included independent Axis I disorders (besides SUD), and medical and neurologic disorders. After controlling for reading ability, gender, subclinical depressive symptoms, body mass index, and alcohol and other drug use, increased MJ use was associated with slower psychomotor speed/sequencing ability (p < .01), less efficient sustained attention (p < .05), and increased cognitive inhibition errors (p < .03). Gender significantly moderated the effects of MJ on psychomotor speed/sequencing ability (p < .003) in that males had a more robust negative relationship. The current study demonstrated that MJ exposure was associated with poorer psychomotor speed, sustained attention and cognitive inhibition in a dose-dependent manner in young adults, findings that are consistent with other samples of adolescent MJ users. Male MJ users demonstrated greater cognitive slowing than females. Future studies need to examine the neural substrates underlying with these cognitive deficits and whether cognitive rehabilitation or exercise interventions may serve as a viable treatments of cognitive deficits in emerging adult MJ users.

Author List

Lisdahl KM, Price JS

Authors

Krista Lisdahl PhD Assistant Professor in the Psychology department at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Jenessa Price PhD Associate Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Adult
Affect
Alcohol Drinking
Attention
Body Mass Index
Cognition
Executive Function
Female
Forecasting
Humans
Intelligence
Male
Marijuana Smoking
Memory
Neuropsychological Tests
Psychomotor Performance
Sex Factors
Socioeconomic Factors
Young Adult