SOFT DRINK CONSUMPTION WILL AGE YOU AS FAST AS SMOKING

"Daily consumption of . . . half-liter of soda is linked with 4.6 years of additional biological aging . . . comparable to . . . smoking.”

Soft Drink Consumption Will Age You As Fast As Smoking - 10 Reasons To Avoid Them 
from HelathySustainableLiving

I am reviewing this article here in the midst of a Coronavirus pandemic, March 23, 2020.  And upon review, I think maybe I shouldn't have posted it at all.  One, I don't like the calls for government intervention into any market, and particularly not into the individual choices that people make as to what they want to put into their own bodies, and, yes, that goes for drugs too.  That's nobody's business but the person alone.  Though their family can advise, if someone wants to put junk into their bodies, who's to say who can stop them?  

From the start, the article calls for government intervention, 

The message to stop smoking issued by public health officials has been nothing less than paramount, repetitive and consistent in the last several decades. What about soft drinks? Daily consumption of just a half-liter of soda is linked with 4.6 years of additional biological aging, effects comparable to that of smoking, finds a new study.

Drinking Soda Ages You

The study found that drinking soft drinks is associated with cell aging, suggesting sugar-sweetened soda consumption might promote disease independently from its role in obesity.

The study revealed that telomeres--the protective units of DNA that cap the ends of chromosomes in cells--were shorter in the white blood cells of survey participants who reported drinking more soda. The findings were reported in the American Journal of Public Health.

The length of telomeres within white blood cells--where it can most easily be measured--has previously been associated with human lifespan. Short telomeres also have been associated with the development of chronic diseases of aging, including heart disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer.

Telomeres, the protective units of DNA
that cap the ends of chromosomes in cells, 
were shorter in the white blood 
cells of people who reported drinking
more soda. 

"Regular consumption of sugar-sweetened sodas might influence disease development, not only by straining the body's metabolic control of sugars, but also through accelerated cellular aging of tissues," said senior study author Elissa Epel, professor of psychiatry at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).

“This is the first demonstration that soda is associated with telomere shortness,” Epel said. “This finding held regardless of age, race, income and education level. Telomere shortening starts long before disease onset. Further, although we only studied adults here, it is possible that soda consumption is associated with telomere shortening in children, as well.”

The authors compared telomere length and sugar-sweetened soda consumption for each participant at a single time point, and that an association does not necessarily demonstrate causation. Epel is co-leading a new study in which participants will be tracked for weeks in real-time to look for effects of sugar-sweetened soda consumption on aspects of cellular aging. Telomere shortening has previously been associated with oxidative damage to tissue, to inflammation, and to insulin resistance.

Based on the way telomere length shortens on average with chronological age, the UCSF researchers calculated that daily consumption of a 20-ounce soda was associated with 4.6 years of additional biological aging. This effect on telomere length is comparable to the effect of smoking, or to the effect of regular exercise in the opposite, anti-aging direction, according to UCSF postdoctoral fellow Cindy Leung, ScD, from the UCSF Center for Health and Community and the lead author of the newly published study.

The average sugar-sweetened soda consumption for all survey participants was 12 ounces. About 21 percent in this nationally representative sample reported drinking at least 20 ounces of sugar-sweetened soda a day.

“It is critical to understand both dietary factors that may shorten telomeres, as well as dietary factors that may lengthen telomeres,” Leung said. “Here it appeared that the only beverage consumption that had a measurable negative association with telomere length was consumption of sugared soda.”

The finding adds a new consideration to the list of links that have tied sugary beverages to obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, and that has driven legislators and activists in several U.S. jurisdictions to champion ballot initiatives that would tax sugar-sweetened beverage purchases with the goal of discouraging consumption and improving public health.

The UCSF researchers measured telomeres after obtaining stored DNA from 5,309 participants, ages 20 to 65, with no history of diabetes or cardiovascular disease, who had participated in the nation’s largest ongoing health survey, called the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, during the years 1999 through 2002. They found that the amount of sugar-sweetened soda a person consumed was associated with telomere length, as measured in the laboratory of Elizabeth Blackburn, PhD, professor of biochemistry at UCSF and a winner of the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her telomere-related discoveries.

A 15-year study found those who drank 300ml of a fizzy drink a day--slightly less than a standard can--were 40 percent more likely to develop prostate cancer than men who avoid the drinks.

Consider the hard facts about soft drinks: soda consumption could lead to various health problems, and scientists are adding to the list seemingly every day. Here are 10 reasons to put down the cola and quit adding to the billions of gallons of soda consumed in the United States annually:

1) Dehydration.
Because caffeine is a diuretic, it leads to an increase in urine volume. So, when you drink a caffeinated soda to quench your thirst, you will actually become thirstier.

2) High calories.
A can of regular cola contains over 150 calories. Not only are these calories devoid of any nutritional value, but they also deplete your body of vital nutrients.

3) Caffeine addiction.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University say when people don't get their usual dose of caffeine from soda, they can suffer a range of withdrawal symptoms including headache, fatigue, muscle pain and inability to concentrate.

4) Acid.
The amount of acid in soda is enough to wear away at the enamel of your teeth, making them more susceptible to decay. In tests done on the acidity levels of soda, certain ones were found to have PH levels as low as 2.5. To put that into perspective, consider that battery acid has a pH of 1 and pure water has a pH of 7.

5) Money.
A person who drinks just 2 cans of soda a day will pay $206 over the course of a year to keep the habit going. If there is more than one soda drinker in the household, that yearly total could quickly double or even triple.

6) Weight gain. Researchers at the University of Texas say artificial sweeteners can interfere with the body's natural ability to regulate calorie intake. This could mean that people who consume artificially sweetened items are more likely to overindulge.

7) Artificial sweeteners.
Many people opt for diet sodas to cut out the calories, but some research shows the sweeteners may cause additional harm, such as cancer.

8) Mineral depletion.
Colas contain phosphoric acid and caffeine, which drain calcium from the bones. Also, because caffeine increases urine volume, more minerals end up leaving the body before having a chance to be properly absorbed.

9) Diabetes. Some scientists believe that the unceasing demands a soda habit places on the pancreas may ultimately leave it unable to keep up with the body's need for insulin -- which could eventually lead to diabetes. The daily consumption of soda does contribute to other problems, such as obesity -- a leading cause of diabetes.

10) A replacement for healthier drinks. In the 1950's, children drank healthier beverages and more water. Today that statistic has flipped and children are drinking more unhealthy beverages and less water.

Sources:
aphapublications.org
ucsf.edu

April McCarthy is a community journalist playing an active role reporting and analyzing world events to advance our health and eco-friendly initiatives.Soft Drink Consumption Will Age You As Fast As Smoking - 10 Reasons To Avoid Them

GINSENG IS EXCELLENT FOR BALANCING THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

"ginseng is . . .  excellent . . . for balancing the nervous system."

That was the first benefit I noticed.  I loved it.  It helped me to sleep, which is ironic because one of the side effects that people complain about is restlessness.  On the first night, the ginseng really relaxed me.  Loved it. 

You know by now with all of the varied claims about how one vitamin cures berie berie and one herb "treats" Alzheimer's or how "calcium supports bone growth," that these are just ads competing for a larger space in our wallets.  Whether you follow the homeopathic path, the allopathic path, Traditional Chinese Medicine or alternative therapies, each one is competing ultimately for your dollars.  Claims that vitamin C cures colds or claims that chiropractic fix a broken shoulder all are claims against some other treatment.  Your job is to sift through all of the claims and find out what they mean.  And if their claim is true, which in many cases they might be, so what?  Does the product benefit you?  It costs time and money to find out.  Do you have either one or both? 

An acupuncturist told me that weakness causes pain. That made sense. That would redefine pain a bit. Wouldn't that also mean that numbing and lack of sensation are pain? Absolutely.  So when patients complain about diabetic neuropathy and its numbing effects, that my friend is pain. 

It appears that ginseng helps with weakness.  

The active ingredient in ginseng is a chemical called ginsenosides.

WebMD claims that ginseng boosts the immune system, lowers blood sugar levels, that in combination with gingko biloba improves concentration and learning, boosts endurance, improves moods, and, get this, treats cancer, heart disease, fatigue, erectile dysfunction, hepatitis C, high blood pressure, menopausal symptoms, and other conditions.  Wow!

Some studies have found that ginseng may boost the immune system. There is some evidence that one particular type of American ginseng extract might decrease the number and severity of colds in adults.

 Several studies in people have also shown that ginseng may lower blood sugar levels.

 There is some early evidence that ginseng might temporarily -- and modestly -- improve concentration and learning. In some studies of mental performance, ginseng has been combined with ginkgo. While these studies are intriguing, many experts feel that we need more evidence.

Ginseng has also been studied as a way to improve mood and boost endurance as well as treat cancer, heart disease, fatigue,  erectile dysfunction, hepatitis C, high blood pressure, menopausal symptoms, and other conditions. While some of these uses are promising, the evidence isn’t conclusive. 

I have found much of this to be true.  Energy stores are up.  My heart beats stronger.  My endurance is definitely improved.  And concentration is definitely enhanced.  It is remarkable.  And it seems to be the right protocol when addressing injuries and weaknesses.  Healing is all about increasing energy.  Whereas coffee and caffeine cycle through your blood to amplify you then returns you to be tired and weak, ginseng acts on the deeper, structural parts of your system.  I can feel the difference.  I have not tried it in conjunction ginkgo biloba.  I will have to try that.  But for now I like its effects.  

What's funny is that I had always thought of ginseng as ginger.  I knew ginger was good for you.  Good in that it activates your stomach and in turn increases the gastric juices that actually helps you lose weight. Ginger is excellent for nausea and a great tonic for your stomach. Something to think about here at Christmas and the holiday season.  

WebMd leaves the dosage up to you, which it should.  It does not know why you might be taking ginseng.  It does not know your medical history or your particular DNA, injuries or diseases, whatnot.  So you'll need to gauge what you can take or tolerate yourself.  It's about you being responsible to your own body.  Given the conditions that ginseng can treat, it seems like it might be good for lots of people.  Remember, energy is key.  

The question is can your body get fatigued from the introduction of ginseng into your system?  I don't know.  I haven't tried ginseng long enough.  But an acupunturist shared with me that he recommends giving ginseng to patients for one month and then lets the patient's body acclimate to that new energy for the next 11 months.  I don't know if that works.  I'll ask him.  

But doesn't it make sense that if ginseng increases your energy stores that that alone with address cancers that as we know weaken our body and systems?  MedicalNewsToday cites a Vanderbilt study:  

Prevents cancer:  There may be substances in ginseng that have anticancer properties.  A few populations in Asia have linked the herb's consumption to a lower risk of cancer. 

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center researchers found that Ginseng improved survival and quality of life after a diagnosis of breast cancer.

SIDE EFFECTS of GINSENG

MedicalNewsToday explains that "Although ginseng is generally consdiered to be safe to consume, the following side effects have been reported.  

Headaches

Elevated heart rate

Nausea

Restlessness

Difficulty sleeping."

This site, Healthline.com, recommends taking Korean Red Ginseng.  And the acupuncturist I refer to above said the same thing, that Korean Ginseng is the strongest and therefore the best.  Now what he does is mix the Korean ginseng with other herbs for balance.  It is a potent energy enhancer, and he mixes it with other herbs to mitigate some of known adverse side effects.

Mr. Ginseng explains that:  

Panax Ginseng is the cream of the crop of medicinal plants when it comes to tackling fatigue.  It is particularly recommended for those lacking in energy, as it is a very strong and healthy stimulant (unlike coffee and tea).  Ginseng is considered a panacea in that it treats a great number of problems and helps the body to combat many different diseases.   Another notable (but often forgotten) benefit of ginseng is its excellent capacity for balancing the nervous system, largely due to its abundance of group B vitamins.  Because of this, ginseng promotes much improved concentration and deep, restorative sleep, as well as fighting episodes of dementia.  It can be very useful for those suffering from emotional as well as physical hardships, e.g., after a death or a break-up, and also for those who are trying to withdraw from drugs (cannabis, alcohol, tobacco, etc.).  Finally, it is an excellent plant for convalescents wishing to restore energy and vitality after illness or sporting injury.  

Always play it smart.  Consult a physician.

H1N1 ATTACKS THE LUNGS

H1N1 and the Damage It Can Cause

H1N1 ATTACKS THE LUNGS
The respiratory tract.  H1N1 attacks the lungs, which form the major organs of your lower respiratory system.  You may not know that you have the H1N1, which is a particularly pernicious attack on lung tissue. A coworker/friend who had H1N1 said she had a case of bronchitis.  I am sure that is how it was registered.  She said that it was a particularly bad case of bronchitis and that she could not get rid of it.  She said this as she coughed.  

from thehealtsite.

The alarming rate at which swine flu is claiming lives, recovering from the flu is definitely akin to getting a new lease of life. However, most patients who develop the flu and are discharged from the hospital after proper treatment and care, often fear if – life would be the same even after recovery. Read to know if swine flu is completely curable.

ROAD TO RECOVERY

On the surface, there might not be a lot of changes that one needs to deal with after recovery. ‘A normal healthy individual can recover from the symptoms of swine flu within 48 to 75 hours, if proper treatment is given on time, which means soon after developing the symptoms. Even with supportive therapy, like proper ventilation to improve oxygenation of blood, one can recover from the flu within five to seven days. Although, general fatigue, weakness and tiredness can be persistent for about a fortnight, it subsides with rest and proper diet,’ informs Dr Prakash Jiandani, Director of Critical Care Unit, Wockhardt Hospital, South Mumbai. Here is the proper treatment and medicine guide for a swine flu patient.

However, people who suffer from moderate to severe symptoms of swine flu, end up with a suppressed lung function or problems related to the respiratory tract. ‘This is because the progression of swine flu attacks lung function and most deaths or critical cases of swine flu are the ones with respiratory infection or failure. That’s a reason why oxygen therapy, with proper ventilation, becomes a necessity for patients suffering from swine flu in advanced stage,’ says Dr Jiandani.

COMPLICATIONS of SWINE FLU

In most severe cases of swine flu, one develops acute respiratory distress syndrome or ARDS, a life-threatening condition and prime reason for so many lives being lost to the flu. In this condition, the lungs of the patient are damaged to such an extent that there is low level of oxygen in the blood, which interferes with the functioning of other organs. For people with a suppressed immune system, like the ones suffering from diabetes, hypertension, elderly generation, etc., recovery from ARDS is very rare. Here is a complete food guide for people suffering from swine flu.

At its severity, the H1N1 virus, causing the seasonal flu, disrupts the functioning of the lungs to a great extent. If one develops ARDS, it could mean that the air sacs or the alveoli of the lungs are filled with fluid and hence, unable to pump requisite oxygen for proper functioning of the entire body. The symptoms of ARDS include: Shortness of breath, rapid breathing, and low blood pressure.

This detail--that the alveoli could be filled with fluid and "unable to pump requisite oxygen" should be a very serious cause for concern with this particular flu.  Do not mess around with toughing it out or going mild on treatment.  You want to aggressively consume large amounts of Vitamin C, eat whole lemons or drink the juice from them perhaps, but whatever you do be sure to get massive amounts of Vitamin C.  Look, if you've already got a chronic condition or you've got injuries somewhere or you've got arthritis, getting the H1N1 could be life-threatening, so don't play around with this.  Other folks I know, a few years older than me, who contracted H1N1 did not do so well in recovery and probably have been working out of a chronic condition since then [two years ago] and may very well end up fighting that chronic condition for the rest of their lives. It is awful.  And very serious.  A friend of mine in the medical field said that the H1N1 is no more serious than any other flu, joking that there is no flu season, that the flu does not take a vacation the rest of the year and then in the winter it comes back with a vengeance.  

Bill Sardi wrote about the swine flu in the winter of 2014. Lots of people died.  He pointed to the collective depressed immunity brought on by vaccines as the culprit.  Regardless, you need to fight for your life.

However, if recovery takes place with all the requisite treatment modalities, ‘it might end up with a scar formation in the lungs which could lead to a radical sequel of the same in the future. There is quite a bit of chance of recurrence of respiratory problems even after recovering from the flu,’ says Dr Jiandani. Prevent the spread of swine flu following these 10 dos and don’ts.

LIFE AFTER RECOVERY

Although ARDS is a life-threatening condition, if one recovers from it, one might have to live with:

Scarring in the lungs: For most people suffering from ARDS, there develops scar in the lungs and the air sacs thickens, which remain unaltered even after recovery. This stiffening of the lung tissues can make it difficult for proper oxygen dissemination in the bloodstream.

Being prone to infections: ‘With a suppressed immunity and scarring in the lungs, a person might also be prone to bacterial infections and other respiratory tract infections in the future,’ says Dr Jiandani.

Abnormal lung functions: Most people with ARDS recover with their lungs functioning normally. However, in some rare cases, the lungs might need supportive oxygen supplementation for few hours a day or few times in a month to help one breathe to the optimum.

Emotional disturbance: Low levels of oxygen in the blood stream due to an impaired lung function can also lead to memory or cognitive impairment and could lead to depression and emotional imbalances in some survivors.  

FOODS & NUTRIENTS THAT FIGHT H1N1
ANTI-OXIDANTS
Vitamin C, Vitamin C, Vitamin C.  One way not to have to live with ARDS is to treat the flu, any flu you contract, immediately with Vitamin C.  Not sugary Cranberry juice or orange juice or even an orange, though the flavonoids of an orange actually would help.  But instead get a blast of Vitamin C by way of ascorbic acid or buffered capsules with a full panel of bioflavonoids or try one of the synthetic Vitamin Cs that bypass your digestive tract.  You want lots of Vitamin C, for according to this report, anti-oxidants [like Vitamin C] destroy the virus, protect and repair lung tissue.  ". . . this discovery is another reason to drink red wine to your health. Antioxidants may be a weakness of the H1N1 flu virus."

GARLIC

BEEF or CHICKEN BROTH

CAYENNE PEPPER

WHITE FOODS (I am not being racist, I swear)

Radishes, mushrooms, Asian pear, and white fish.  Sounds good.  I am thinking of halibut and perhaps a fish chowder with a buttery cream sauce, not one of those made with a heavy cornstarch.

One food that is hard for me to avoid is dairy.  I love raw milk, cheeses, yogurt, and butter.  I would still recommend some butter during your bout with and recovery from H1N1.  Maybe even yogurt too.  Probiotics help with immunity.  

Direct-pay Medicine

Cristy Beckman, who suffers from chronic pain in her spine and osteoarthritis, spent six hours in a doctor's crowded waiting room in severe pain.

That was enough, the Middletown resident decided. It was time to make a drastic change in how she was treated.

At about the same time, Dr. Christina Bovelsky opened Peachtree Family Medicine in downtown Middletown, Delaware with a unique approach to medicine.

Instead of dealing with traditional insurance, co-pays and deductibles, her patients pay a one-year membership fee that includes an annual physical exam and between two and four office visits. Small procedures such as nebulizer treatments, strep tests and electrocardiograms, are included.

Beckman, 46, became one of Bovelsky's first patients.

"There's an absolute peace of mind that someone is looking after your healthcare," Beckman said. "I don't think there's any way I could do something different."

Bovelsky's patients can pay monthly fees between $65 and $75. Yearly rates for adults vary between $780 and $900, depending on the number of visits a patient wants. Care for children under 18 ranges from $240 to $360. Additional office visits cost $80 each.

Nationally, more health care providers are embracing the direct-pay, or "concierge medicine," model.

A Physicians' Foundation 2014 survey found 7 percent of doctors run a direct-pay practice and another 13 percent plan to transition to some form of direct-pay model.

Most of Bovelsky's patients still have insurance for additional procedures and tests not covered by the doctor's fees, such as vaccines and lab work.

Health care providers say they are transitioning to direct-pay medicine because they are able to spend more time with fewer patients, which allows them to drill down to the cause of a medical issue instead of ordering extra tests. The doctors are also more readily available to patients after hours.

David Wilderman, a longtime physical therapist, decided to sell his physical therapy practice in Pennsylvania and open a new one in Delaware to help patients, like Beckman, who wanted a more personal approach.

"My belief is everyone should receive high-quality health care," he said. "The optimal goal is for my patients is to avoid medication and surgery."

Even with the extra attention, some fear direct pay and concierge medicine will drive up medical costs for individuals. Insurance representatives say consumers should make sure they completely understand a direct fee plan and the cost of treatments from a physician who is not working within a traditional insurance plan network.

Courtney Jay, a spokeswoman for America’s Health Insurance Plans, a national trade association representing the health insurance industry, said in an email that a doctor can charge more for a specific procedure than he or she is typically reimbursed for by an insurance company, which means the patient will pay more for that procedure.

"The out-of-pocket amount for the patient would vary depending on the patient's specific policy within their plan," she said.

Dr. Nick Biasotto, a family doctor and past president of the Medical Society of Delaware, said many doctors are exploring these new business models because they are seeing more patients daily as practices merge and facing higher medical costs with technological advancements.

And, as doctors age, they tend to want to scale back.

At 65, Biasotto, said he found he couldn't keep the pace. He is beginning to transition to a direct-pay practice after becoming frustrated with seeing 45 patients a day. In his 36 years as a doctor, he's seen 4,000 patients.

"It's time for me to slow down. I don’t want to join the hospital system and crank out patient after patient," he said.

Under the direct-pay system, he might see 500 patients in a year and he'll be able to make house calls. He's heard of about eight other doctors pursuing these models.

But he also had to let some employees go and help some patients who couldn't afford monthly fees transition to new providers.

"That was the hardest part of the whole process . . . saying goodbye to patients I've cared for for years," Biasotto said.

A direct-fee model also helps doctors and patients eliminate paperwork such as prior authorizations and filing for reimbursements. Bovelsky said she uses that time saved to focus more on patients.

"The average time a doctor has with a patient is 7 minutes," Bovelsky said. "Here, it is at least 30 to 60 minutes. Sometimes it's 90. When you take the time to sit down, you are going to find the answer to what is going on with them.

"I love what I do and I wanted to spend my time with patients. The way medicine is set up currently ... it really is a revolving door."

"Insurance standards often dictate what services specialists, like physical therapists, can provide and how long they can care for patients," Wilderman said. "Often patients in physical therapy have between 12 to 24 sessions, but the amount of time spent with a therapist is under a half hour.  It's not in the patient's best interest," Wilderman explained.

Under his model, patients only will need four to six visits, for about an hour each, though there are no set number of visits a person must have. An initial assessment appointment is $195 with any additional visit costing $165. Patients can try to get their services reimbursed as well, he said.

"This is helping people get better faster...People don't have to lose valuable time away from work and family," Wilderman said. "I don't have to go by the insurance company saying I'm not going to cover that.

"When you tally everything up, it is cheaper in the long run to do what I'm doing as an out-of-network provider."

Jen Rini can be reached at (302) 324-2386 or jrini@delawreonline.com. Follow @JenRini on Twitter.

Drug Cartel and Counter Culture Take a Hit

Smoking High-Strength Cannabis May Damage Nerve Fibers in Brain 
from The Guardian

Study suggests high levels of skunk use may affect the brain’s white matter, making communication between the right and left hemispheres less efficient

The brain’s white matter seen from the front as obtained by diffusion tensor imaging. Photograph: Institute of Psychiatry

High-strength cannabis may damage nerve fibres that handle the flow of messages across the two halves of the brain, scientists claim. Brain scans of people who regularly smoked strong skunk-like cannabis revealed subtle differences in the white matter that connects the left and right hemispheres and carries signals from one side of the brain to the other.

The changes were not seen in those who never used cannabis or smoked only the less potent forms of the drug, the researchers found.

The study is thought to be the first to look at the effects of cannabis potency on brain structure, and suggests that greater use of skunk may cause more damage to the corpus callosum, making communications across the brain's hemispheres less efficient.

Paola Dazzan, a neurobiologist at the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London, said the effects appeared to be linked to the level of active ingredient, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), in cannabis.  While traditional forms of cannabis contain 2 to 4% THC, the more portent varietis (of which there are about 100), can contain 10 to 14% THC, according to the DrugScope charity.

“If you look at the corpus callosum, what we’re seeing is a significant difference in the white matter between those who use high potency cannabis and those who never use the drug, or use the low-potency drug,” said Dazzan. The corpus callosum is rich in cannabinoid receptors, on which the THC chemical acts.

A DTI image of the corpus callosum, as seen from the side, is shown in red on and superimposed on a background MRI image of the brain. Photograph: Institute of Psychiatry

“The difference is there whether you have psychosis or not, and we think this is strictly related to the potency of the cannabis,” she added. Details of the study are reported in the journal Psychological Medicine.

The researchers used two scanning techniques, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), to examine the corpus callosum, the largest region of white matter, in the brains of 56 patients who had reported a first episode of psychosis, and 43 healthy volunteers from the local community.

The scans found that daily users of high-potency cannabis had a slightly greater – by about 2% – “mean diffusivity” in the corpus callosum. “That reflects a problem in the white matter that ultimately makes it less efficient,” Dazzan told the Guardian. “We don’t know exactly what it means for the person, but it suggests there is less efficient transfer of information.”

The study cannot confirm that high levels of THC in cannabis cause changes to white matter. As Dazzan notes, it is may be that people with damaged white matter are more likely to smoke skunk in the first place.

“It is possible that these people already have a different brain and they are more likely to use cannabis. But what we can say is if it’s high potency, and if you smoke frequently, your brain is different from the brain of someone who smokes normal cannabis, and from someone who doesn’t smoke cannabis at all,” she said.

“It is possible that these people already have a different brain and they are more likely to use cannabis. But what we can say is if it’s high potency, and if you smoke frequently, your brain is different from the brain of someone who smokes normal cannabis, and from someone who doesn’t smoke cannabis at all,” she said.

But even with the uncertainty over cause and effect, she urged users and public health workers to change how they think about cannabis use. “When it comes to alcohol, we are used to thinking about how much people drink, and whether they are drinking wine, beer, or whisky. We should think of cannabis in a similar way, in terms of THC and the different contents cannabis can have, and potentially the effects on health will be different,” she said.

“As we have suggested previously, when assessing cannabis use, it is extremely important to gather information on how often and what type of cannabis is being used. These details can help quantify the risk of mental health problems and increase awareness of the type of damage these substances can do to the brain,” she added.

In February, Dazzan and others at the Institute of Psychiatry reported that the ready availability of skunk in south London might be behind a rise in the proportion of new cases of psychosis being attributed to cannabis.