Discussion W13

Discussion W13

[Author’s Name]

[Institutional Affiliation(s)]

Discussion W13

Response 1

Cannabis is the second most widely used intoxicant in adolescence. Regular use of cannabis is often linked to drug dependency in which a person feels symptoms of withdrawal when not taking the drug. People who use cannabis experience mood swings, sleep difficulties, etc. (Hall & Solowij, 1998).

The adolescent children or teenagers who are involved in marijuana or cannabis consumption frequently indicate disadvantages as it alters not only the microstructural and microstructural growth of the brain but also the neurocognitive brain functioning. Furthermore, the extreme use of cannabis can cause changes in brain functioning particularly in the hypothalamus and gray matter of the brain.

When studies were performed to identify the changes in gray matter, gray matter volume was significantly reduced in individuals taking regular cannabis. Experimental studies have shown that there were significant clusters displaying a poorer gray matter volume in inconsistent cannabis consumers matched with individuals taking cannabis infrequently (Iversen, 2003). Changes in the gray matter were not only observed in temporal pole of the brain but also in the medial temporal cortex, parahippocampal gyrus and left insula.

Response 2

Parkinson’s disease is a well-known nervous system disorder that affects movement. The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease start gradually. Additionally, an individual may experience stiffness or slowing of movements along with tremors.

Cannabinoids are a system of cellular networks that interact with the receptors of the body that are responsible for regulating mood and memory functions. Several naturally occurring cannabinoids are there that facilitate in regulating a cellular network of patients that suffer from various memory disorders such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. Typically, physicians recommend cannabinoids in certain conditions to treat symptoms of neurochemical functions that are related to anxiety, mood, pain and learning. Additionally, drugs like rasagiline and selegiline can aid in slowing the progression of a disease. Furthermore, the drug levodopa can facilitate a person suffering from Parkinson as it replaces the missing dopamine in the brain (Connolly & Lang, 2014).

The targets I have mentioned were similar to those mentioned in the book. However, in the book, I also found that drugs like benztropine can also help in reducing tremors and the activity of neurotransmitter acetylcholine

References

Connolly, B. S., & Lang, A. E. (2014). Pharmacological treatment of Parkinson disease: a review. Jama, 311(16), 1670-1683.

Hall, W., & Solowij, N. (1998). Adverse effects of cannabis. The lancet, 352(9140), 1611-1616.

Iversen, L. (2003). Cannabis and the brain. Brain, 126(6), 1252-1270.