Regular Cannabis Use May Slow Down Visual Processing By Retina

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr Vincent Laprévote
Praticien Hospitalier (MD, PhD, HDR)
Pôle Hospitalo-Universitaire de Psychiatrie du Grand Nancy
Centre Psychothérapique de Nancy

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response: There was evidence in animal studies showing that cannabis use could impact visual processing, but lesser was known in humans.

We showed here an association between regular cannabis use and a delay in the later stage of visual processing in the retina.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: Regular cannabis use may slightly slow down the early visual processing.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: We have to cautiously verify our result in a larger sample. We also have to explore if this delay is present in further stages of visual processing (i. e. in the brain) and has behavioral consequences. Dr Schwitzer also just begun new researches to verify if this delay is permanent or recedes with cannabis cessation.

MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Response: Importantly, all the participants of this research were regular cannabis users before their participation to the study. We systematically proposed cannabis cessation solutions to the participants.

MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.

Citation:

Schwitzer T, Schwan R, Albuisson E, Giersch A, Lalanne L, Angioi-Duprez K, Laprevote V. Association Between Regular Cannabis Use and Ganglion Cell Dysfunction . JAMA Ophthalmol. Published online December 08, 2016. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2016.4761

Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions.

More Medical Research Interviews on MedicalResearch.com

[wysija_form id=”5″]

Last Updated on December 9, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD