A new study suggests that for every 5 years a person smokes marijuana, their ability to recall common words declines.<br />The study, published in 'JAMA Internal Medicine,' looked at the marijuana habits of people ages 18 to 30... and then followed up 25 years later.<br />While 84% of participants said they used marijuana initially, less than 12% reported still smoking 25 years later.<br />In the follow-up, participants took standard cognitive tests that measured: Verbal memory (word recall), processing speed(like solving simple math problems) ... and higher-level skills that indicate how well different parts of the brain are connecting.<br />According to the study, the longer people used marijuana, the worse they did on all three fronts.<br />Taking into account other factors that could affect the results, researchers say only the association between long-term marijuana use and verbal memory persisted.<br />Specifically, the study suggests that for every five years someone smokes, they can recall one less word from a list of 15 words.<br />The study authors say they plan to invite participants back for a 30-year visit to undergo further cognitive testing.
