More Cannabis Use Linked to Modest Cognitive Dips in Young Adults
Among 225 young adults, greater cannabis use frequency was associated with small reductions in emotional processing speed and working memory, with modest additional effects of earlier onset but no sex differences.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Greater past 6-month cannabis use was associated with poorer Emotional Stroop Congruent Accuracy (p=0.0004) and List Sorting Working Memory performance (p=0.02, marginally significant after correction). Younger age of regular use onset was modestly related to lower Stroop accuracy (p=0.03, marginally significant). No cannabis-by-sex interactions were found.
Key Numbers
225 young adults ages 16-22. Emotional Stroop Congruent Accuracy: p=0.0004 (FDR-p=0.002). Working Memory: p=0.02 (FDR-p=0.10, marginal). Age of onset and Stroop: p=0.03 (FDR-p=0.13, marginal). No sex interactions on any cognitive measure.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional study of 225 young adults ages 16-22 who completed substance use interviews and a cognitive battery including the Emotional Word-Emotional Face Stroop and NIH Toolbox executive functioning tasks. Linear regressions with FDR correction for multiple comparisons.
Why This Research Matters
The small but significant effects on processing speed and working memory add to the literature on cannabis cognition, while the lack of sex differences pushes back against the assumption that males and females are differentially affected.
The Bigger Picture
The effect sizes are small, consistent with the broader literature showing cannabis-related cognitive effects are detectable but modest in young adults. This suggests cannabis does not cause dramatic cognitive impairment but may create subtle disadvantages.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design cannot determine if cannabis causes cognitive effects or if pre-existing differences drive both use and performance. Small sample. Multiple comparisons reduce confidence in marginal findings. Self-reported cannabis use and other substance use.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would the cognitive effects reverse with abstinence?
- ?Do the small effects compound over time with continued use?
- ?Are the emotional processing effects related to cannabis's impact on anxiety-related brain circuits?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Small but significant cognitive effects with no sex differences
- Evidence Grade:
- Adequate sample with validated cognitive measures and FDR correction, though cross-sectional design limits causal inference.
- Study Age:
- 2024 study
- Original Title:
- Investigating sex differences and age of onset in emotion regulation, executive functioning, and cannabis use in adolescents and young adults.
- Published In:
- Journal of cannabis research, 6(1), 20 (2024)
- Authors:
- Wade, Natasha E(18), Courtney, Kelly E(6), Wallace, Alexander L(14), Hatz, Laura, Jacobus, Joanna
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05787
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does cannabis affect cognition in young adults?
This study found small but statistically significant reductions in emotional processing speed and working memory associated with more cannabis use. The effects were modest, consistent with the broader literature.
Does starting cannabis younger make cognitive effects worse?
Modestly. Earlier age of regular use was associated with slightly lower processing speed, but the effect was marginally significant after statistical correction and needs confirmation in larger studies.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05787APA
Wade, Natasha E; Courtney, Kelly E; Wallace, Alexander L; Hatz, Laura; Jacobus, Joanna. (2024). Investigating sex differences and age of onset in emotion regulation, executive functioning, and cannabis use in adolescents and young adults.. Journal of cannabis research, 6(1), 20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-024-00225-z
MLA
Wade, Natasha E, et al. "Investigating sex differences and age of onset in emotion regulation, executive functioning, and cannabis use in adolescents and young adults.." Journal of cannabis research, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-024-00225-z
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Investigating sex differences and age of onset in emotion re..." RTHC-05787. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/wade-2024-investigating-sex-differences-and
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.