Cognitive Effects of Cannabis Use: A Comprehensive Review Across Domains
Cannabis is the most widely consumed illicit substance worldwide, with rising use particularly among adolescents and young adults. Accumulating evidence indicates that chronic cannabis use may negatively impact several domains of cognition, yet findings across studies remain varied and fragmented. T...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Neurology International |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2035-8377/17/7/107 |
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| author | Andréia Pucinelli de Souza Queiroz Maria Olivia Pozzolo Pedro Marcela Waisman Campos Julio Torales Antonio Ventriglio João Mauricio Castaldelli-Maia |
| author_facet | Andréia Pucinelli de Souza Queiroz Maria Olivia Pozzolo Pedro Marcela Waisman Campos Julio Torales Antonio Ventriglio João Mauricio Castaldelli-Maia |
| author_sort | Andréia Pucinelli de Souza Queiroz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cannabis is the most widely consumed illicit substance worldwide, with rising use particularly among adolescents and young adults. Accumulating evidence indicates that chronic cannabis use may negatively impact several domains of cognition, yet findings across studies remain varied and fragmented. This comprehensive review synthesizes current knowledge on the long-term cognitive consequences of cannabis use, focusing on attention, executive functioning, learning, memory, language, motor coordination, and social cognition. Consistent impairments have been observed in domains such as attention, executive function, memory, and learning; however, most evidence derives from studies of acute or residual effects. Evidence of long-lasting deficits after extended abstinence remains more limited and methodologically heterogeneous. Acute motor coordination deficits are well established, but persistent impairments in this domain lack conclusive evidence. Effects on language remain inconclusive, and findings regarding social cognition, though limited, suggest potential deficits in emotion recognition and mental state inference. Early onset and high-frequency use are critical risk factors for more severe and enduring cognitive effects. Some deficits may partially reverse with abstinence, although many persist long after cessation. Overall, cannabis use is associated with widespread and lasting cognitive impairments. These findings underscore the need for targeted prevention strategies, especially among youth, and point to future longitudinal and mechanistic research to better understand the nature, persistence, and potential reversibility of these cognitive effects. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-830d5d22c56742eba1ef1fc47ae334c0 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2035-8377 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Neurology International |
| spelling | doaj-art-830d5d22c56742eba1ef1fc47ae334c02025-08-20T03:07:55ZengMDPI AGNeurology International2035-83772025-07-0117710710.3390/neurolint17070107Cognitive Effects of Cannabis Use: A Comprehensive Review Across DomainsAndréia Pucinelli de Souza Queiroz0Maria Olivia Pozzolo Pedro1Marcela Waisman Campos2Julio Torales3Antonio Ventriglio4João Mauricio Castaldelli-Maia5Department of Neuroscience, Medical School, FMABC University Center, Santo André 09060-870, SP, BrazilDepartment of Psychiatry, Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-903, SP, BrazilDepartment of Cognitive Neurology, Neuropsychiatry, and Neuropsychology, FLENI, Buenos Aires C1428AQK, ArgentinaGrupo de Investigación sobre Epidemiología de los Trastornos Mentales, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Psicopatología y Neurociencias Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo 111421, ParaguayDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, ItalyDepartment of Neuroscience, Medical School, FMABC University Center, Santo André 09060-870, SP, BrazilCannabis is the most widely consumed illicit substance worldwide, with rising use particularly among adolescents and young adults. Accumulating evidence indicates that chronic cannabis use may negatively impact several domains of cognition, yet findings across studies remain varied and fragmented. This comprehensive review synthesizes current knowledge on the long-term cognitive consequences of cannabis use, focusing on attention, executive functioning, learning, memory, language, motor coordination, and social cognition. Consistent impairments have been observed in domains such as attention, executive function, memory, and learning; however, most evidence derives from studies of acute or residual effects. Evidence of long-lasting deficits after extended abstinence remains more limited and methodologically heterogeneous. Acute motor coordination deficits are well established, but persistent impairments in this domain lack conclusive evidence. Effects on language remain inconclusive, and findings regarding social cognition, though limited, suggest potential deficits in emotion recognition and mental state inference. Early onset and high-frequency use are critical risk factors for more severe and enduring cognitive effects. Some deficits may partially reverse with abstinence, although many persist long after cessation. Overall, cannabis use is associated with widespread and lasting cognitive impairments. These findings underscore the need for targeted prevention strategies, especially among youth, and point to future longitudinal and mechanistic research to better understand the nature, persistence, and potential reversibility of these cognitive effects.https://www.mdpi.com/2035-8377/17/7/107neurocognitive functioningcannabis-related impairmentresidual effectschronic exposureabstinence duration |
| spellingShingle | Andréia Pucinelli de Souza Queiroz Maria Olivia Pozzolo Pedro Marcela Waisman Campos Julio Torales Antonio Ventriglio João Mauricio Castaldelli-Maia Cognitive Effects of Cannabis Use: A Comprehensive Review Across Domains Neurology International neurocognitive functioning cannabis-related impairment residual effects chronic exposure abstinence duration |
| title | Cognitive Effects of Cannabis Use: A Comprehensive Review Across Domains |
| title_full | Cognitive Effects of Cannabis Use: A Comprehensive Review Across Domains |
| title_fullStr | Cognitive Effects of Cannabis Use: A Comprehensive Review Across Domains |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cognitive Effects of Cannabis Use: A Comprehensive Review Across Domains |
| title_short | Cognitive Effects of Cannabis Use: A Comprehensive Review Across Domains |
| title_sort | cognitive effects of cannabis use a comprehensive review across domains |
| topic | neurocognitive functioning cannabis-related impairment residual effects chronic exposure abstinence duration |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2035-8377/17/7/107 |
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