Cannabis and cognitive functioning in multiple sclerosis: The role of gender.

Stuart SchlossmanComplementary & Alternative therapies and devices for Multiple Sclerosis (MS)


                                                                  

  
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Patel VP, et al. Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin. 2017 Apr-Jun.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cognitive function in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) is associated with gender differences and the use of smoked/ingested cannabis.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this report is to explore a possible gender-cannabis interaction associated with cognitive dysfunction in PwMS.
METHODS: A retrospective analysis was undertaken of cognitive data collected from 140 PwMS. A general linear model was conducted to determine gender and cannabis effects on processing speed (SDMT), verbal (CVLT-II) and visual (BVMT-R) memory, and executive functions (D-KEFS), while controlling for age and years of education.
RESULTS: Cannabis was smoked at least once a month by 33 (23.6%) participants. Cannabis users were more impaired on the SDMT (p = 0.044). Men, who comprised 30.7% of the entire sample and 42.2% of cannabis users, were more impaired on the CVLT-II (total learning, p = 0.001; delayed recall, p = 0.004). A cannabis-gender interaction was found with the CVLT-II delayed recall (p = 0.049) and BVMT-R total learning (p = 0.014), where male cannabis users performed more poorly than female.
CONCLUSION: Males with MS may be particularly vulnerable to the cognitive side effects of smoked cannabis use.


Source: 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/28634543/?i=5&from=multiple%20sclerosis








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