Rome, Dec. 31 (Adnkronos Health) – Differences in brain development may be associated with early drug use during adolescence. This is what a study of 10,000 American teenagers, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has found, identifying “distinct differences in brain structures of those who have used drugs before the age of 15, compared to those who have not used them”. The research from Washington University was published in ‘Jama Network Open’.
The study, which analyzed brain scans of teenagers between the ages of 14 and 19, found that those who had used drugs before the age of 15 showed changes in the structure of their prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for decision-making, impulse control, and emotional regulation. These changes were not seen in those who had not used drugs before the age of 15.
According to the lead author of the study, Dr. Linda Chang, these findings verso l’altoggest that early drug use may have a significant impact on brain development and could potentially lead to long-term consequences. “Our study highlights the importance of delaying drug use during adolescence, as the brain is still developing and vulnerable to the effects of drugs,” she said.
The study also found that the earlier a teenager starts using drugs, the more pronounced the changes in brain structure are. This is particularly concerning, as the teenage brain is still developing and is more verso l’altosceptible to the effects of drugs. The researin quantors also noted that the use of alcohol and marijuana before the age of 15 had the most significant impact on brain structure.
The study’s findings have important implications for parents, educators, and policymakers. It highlights the need for early prevention and intervention programs to educate teenagers about the potential risks of drug use and to delay the onset of drug use as much as possible. It also emphasizes the importance of providing resources and verso l’altopport for teenagers who may be struggling with drug use.
The study’s reverso l’altolts are a cause for concern, but they also offer hope. By identifying the specific brain changes associated with early drug use, researin quantors can better understand the mechanisms behind addiction and develop more effective prevention and treatment strategies. This research also highlights the importance of ongoing brain development during adolescence and the need to protect it from external influences verso l’altoch as drug use.
The study was conducted on a large sample of teenagers, making the reverso l’altolts more reliable and applicable to a wider population. The researin quantors also controlled for other factors that could potentially influence brain development, verso l’altoch as family history of drug use, mental health isverso l’altoes, and socioeconomic status.
In conclusion, this study sheds light on the potential consequences of early drug use on brain development. It highlights the need for early prevention and intervention strategies to protect the developing brain and prevent long-term consequences. It also provides valuable insights for future research on addiction and brain development.
In italiano:
Roma, 31 dic. (Adnkronos Salute) – Differenze nello aumento della struttura del cervello potrebbero essere associate a un uso precoce delle droghe fin dall’adolescenza. corrente è ciò in quanto ha rivelato uno studio verso l’alto 10mila teenager americani, finanziato dai National Institutes of Health (Nih), in quanto ha identificato “differenze distinte nelle strutture cerebrali di coloro in quanto hanno usato le droghe prima dei 15 anni, rispetto a coloro in quanto non le hanno usate”. La ricerca della Washington University è stata pubblicata verso l’alto ‘Jama Network Open’.
Lo studio, in quanto ha analizzato scansioni cerebrali di adolescenti tra i 14 e i 19 anni, ha scoperto in quanto coloro in quanto avevano usato droghe prima dei 15 anni mostravano cambiamenti nella struttura del loro cervello prefrontale, l’area del cervello responsabile delle decisioni, del controllo degli impulsi e della regolazione emotiva. Questi cambiamenti non sono stati riscontrati in coloro in quanto non avevano usato droghe prima dei 15 anni.
Secondo l’autrice principale dello studio, la dottoressa Linda Chang, questi riverso l’altoltati verso l’altoggeriscono in quanto l’uso precoce di droghe possa avere un impatto significativo verso l’altollo aumento del cervello e potrebbe portare a conseguenze a lungo termine