Dr. Amen: Marijuana Alters Our Brain Negatively and SPECT Scan Redefines Mental Illness

In this week’s video, Dr. Yang sits down with Dr. Amen, clinical neuroscientist, child, and adult psychiatrist, and founder of Amen Clinic, BrainMD, and Amen University. Dr. Amen has over 40 years of experience studying mental health from a neurological perspective, specifically addressing mental disorders through brain scans. Dr. Amen explains why studying the brain is so crucial to understanding our mental function, and which types of brain scans he prefers to use. He then discusses how different substances, such as marijuana, can affect brain functioning, and what we can do to reverse these damages.
#Dr.DanielAmen #DanielAmen #brainhealth #brainscan #marijuana #psychiatry
Dr. Amen: Marijuana Alters Our Brain Negatively and SPECT Scan Redefines Mental Illness
0:00 About Dr. Amen
3:25 Dr. Amen’s take on Mental Health
5:34 How does marijuana affect the brain?
7:29 What is SPECT Scan?
10:56 How does SPECT Scan help doctors choose medications?
14:10 What are the differences among brain imaging technology?
16:27 Does insurance cover the SPECT Scan?
17:49 How does Marijuana injure the brain?
23:25 Risks of legalizing Marijuana and Medical Marijuana
25:14 The mental health challenges for doctors, patients, and society
29:35 Marijuana impacts people’s health and society
33:07 help people quit Marijuana
34:13 help people‘s mental health after quitting Marijuana.
35:50 the Pandemic Impact on brain function
38:08 long-covid impact on people’s mental health
40:23 Dr. Amen’s new book - You, Happier (His point of view on being happy from biological, psychological, social, and spiritual contexts)
related website：
www.yanginstitute.com
www.yangtmscenter.com
www.taoclinicofacupuncture.com

[@cherellerubins4441]

Thank you for this interview. I feel like it has been so difficult finding real information on this topic from credible sources that are not spun with propaganda. As a daily cannabis user of 4 years, you have helped me make the decision to stop. Thank you so much.

[@victoriaryan23]

I was a daily user for several years. I think six? And so many people are so brainwashed, or should I say blinded by their addiction, saying anyone who speaks out about the effects of long-term use is paid by big pharma, etc. I used to be same way, blinded by my addiction. Now I’m three weeks (+) cannabis (and alcohol) free and feeling great! I am so grateful I made the decision to stop. It was time. For a while it served me, but I overstayed the relationship.

[@SeedSupreme]

You both are liars, bloody ones indeed. I have been in the business of cannabis for over 20years and I have had users who stopped and later came back to complain how their situations worsened when they stopped using it and today they are one of our biggest consumers..

[@cherylyoke4872]

@@victoriaryan23thank you for sharing that.

[@cherylyoke4872]

I have a friend who began using MJ in college. She’s now in assisted living with dementia. I’ve never used, and I’m still teaching during retirement and studying foreign languages on Duolingo.

[@cherylyoke4872]

Dr Yang is asking many questions that I would if I were there.

[@lindawilson795]

Thank you for this!❤

[@sondragonzalez6764]

Thank you so much for this. People tell people there is nothing wrong with smoking or using it. What I have been seeing with my children who use it, I’ve noticed a character change. They say it’s not addictive. I’ve seen different. Thank you again.

[@bruce4130]

Smoking not the best on the heart!

[@wattsnottaken1]

It’s not stereotypical addictive like meth or heroin, crack. But if you use it everyday for a long time and then try to stop cold Turkey there can be noticeable side effects. I smoked weed every day for 7 years and then quit cold Turkey 2 weeks ago but I got lucky that the only 2 side effect was trouble falling asleep the first 10 nights and some depression.

[@SubwaySounds]

How about the brain scans for the pills you prescribe to your patients? What do you think we'd find in those scans? How about liver scans?

[@chrisstine828]

He said many times he makes people change their nutrition and habits. He rarely relays on medication!!!

[@herbika]

Fascinating

[@rnancyp7986]

Doctors Yang and Amen, thank you so much for your approach and statements about mental illness. My mother was disempowered and virtually cursed by stigma of her so-called mental illness, then so was MY life. Thankfully I've overcome the entire stigma. It took me a lifetime to do this, and i'm not a spring chicken. But now I am finally living. Thanks again, may God Bless you.

[@angelsteinfeld220]

And see I am at a constant high speed, even smoking, The oils which is higher concentrate. Just brings me back to a regular level that everyone else seems to be at and I’m still not there. My mind is constantly running. I am constantly busy, but I am an advocate, because, I used to take opiate pain medication.. which I will never do again

[@targoltran]

I do agree with Dr. Yang in regards to responses that are maladaptive coming from an unhealthy-minded person would be. Some of them, just do not have enough interactions with other humans. As a result, they often give wrong responses and/or have a wrong coping method.

[@attic1project776]

Wow Dr Amen is here!

[@Thatsbannanas-d8c]

He’s a scam ! He doesn’t heal he just blows his own ego. He refunded my money!!!!

[@jharvey1095]

So is it just smoking in general that affects the brain or consumption of thc in general no matter the method of said consumption? 🤨

[@kg2096]

It's hard to hear that Marijuana could be so damaging to the brain (when used to excess). It shouldn't be surprising, anything can be detrimental when used more than is beneficial to the body. I wonder if he might conduct a study on the effects of the use of higher CBD to THC ratios to it's inverse. Given that CBD has been shown to be beneficial, I'm curious about what a SPECT scan might show for those who only use CBD, or a significantly higher ratio of CBD to THC. Most people who use Marijuana are the type to gravitate towards a higher THC concentration, specifically for the high. I'd have to look this up again, but I believe I remember hearing that CBD is an inflamation modulator, and if that's accurate, then it might be used to help heal the brain.

[@qhansen123]

Cbd is a negative allosteric modulator of the cb1 receptor so it will reduce the effects of thc, and is an antipsychotic through this effect. But this doctor gave no sources to data and uses analogies and dumbed down speech, so who knows what the effects are. Endocannabinoid system is vast so effects should be massive tho

[@JackieHale]

My question concern MJ use is: would it make a difference in blood flow issue if THC is obtained via eatables rather than smoking ?

[@victoriaryan23]

This is good question. I would imagine so, since I think it’s the effect of the THC that decreases the blood flow. But definitely something I am curious about myself.

[@bruce4130]

Problem with THC, we don’t now the levels when taking it! We should know the levels before taking g it!

[@dspdesign663]

very interesting interview overall. its only logical that a baseline scan could assist in diagnosing. but to demonize medical cannabis worse than other pharmaceutical treatment alternatives just isnt fair without weighting other factors. neurologist Andrew Hubermans channel has some great podcasts pertaining to this.

[@jasonwilcox6637]

I Looove willy Nelson

[@SeedSupreme]

Yeah..and we are doing our best to make available the best of every species that we have in our farm, and satisfy all levels of consumption. For one-on-one discussion? It's on the channel description.

[@JulietCrowson]

Map out the pt histories and treatments chronologically ? 🙏🕊️⛪

[@user-by8cq9es4x]

Great interview! Very helpful! Thank you Dr Yang and Dr Amen! At 18min: Marijuana and brain damage.

[@DrYangHealthTalks]

Thanks for your comment!

[@larrytate1657]

@@DrYangHealthTalks What if an adult uses cannibas with THC in low doses and with CBD only once every two weeks or so? Would that still hurt the brain or is it the repeated regular daily use that hurts the brain?

[@lindsaywhitney6305]

is it the smoking of marijuana that creates the problems? Or does eating it change that effect?

[@kernjames]

Great question, because being specific is important. Still he is talking about the effects of marijuana that are experienced in the brain. If that is the case, then smoking or eating edibles wouldn't make a difference. The damage would be the same. He also doesn't talk about the amount of marijuana that is damaging. The video does leave questions. 😊

[@brendansmyth5053]

Do doctors think their meds are safer than Cannabis? Can we do a study on young brains using ssris and adhd meds over 10 years? Plenty of doctors overlook the damage these drugs do to the brain long term? Why is ok for Doctors to over prescribe these dangerous drugs to 14 year olds? Here in Australia our GP’s over prescribe meds that have never been approved for young people by the TGA. So what are we a actually doing to stop this happening? Suicide is on the increase because doctors overprescribe antipsychotics and dangerous ssris and snris . Doctors aren’t even formally trained in slow, safe tapering methods so this is causing major withdrawals and suicide. Pregnant mums are taking a bunch of meds while pregnant! How does this affect the unborn baby??

[@larrytate1657]

Ssris can actually generate neuro genesis believe it or not.

[@questioneverything1776]

He’s actually saying these meds shouldn’t be prescribed unless brain scans are done to know what is actually going on. He gave examples of alternatives to meds too.

[@carolecoffman4276]

If you look at Dr Amen’s website you would see that he talks a lot of nutritional deficiencies in relationship to behaviors.. The drug companies are pushing drugs to be prescribed.. Encourage mds to prescribe meds by giving money incentives..

[@slapshot1x]

To make marijuana criminal is far greater of a crime than someone self medicating with a relatively benign substance when compared to all the pharmaceuticals pushed by your industry

[@underated17]

Is marijuana better than all or most meds do you think?

[@deniseschmidt3708]

​@underated17 no but everybody is different and sometimes the medication doesn't work

[@underated17]

@@deniseschmidt3708 I have had some trauma and my brain thinks in weird ways maybe do to the trauma. I have anxiety with smoke and react very badly to it. I also seem to have a primitive way of thinking, I am not sure if that is because of my anxiety.

[@JulietCrowson]

The industry is split up/ fragmented - no one individual Dr represents the whole profession 🙏🕊️⛪✌️

[@nellgibsongodfather]

@@underated17it’s good to be self aware, it makes you more intelligent and less primitive so keep doing that and eventually you will not feel that way about yourself

[@drEAmzZzza]

ive smoked weed all day every day since i was 13, im now 44 and have 147 IQ. please explain. these are the same doctors to say weed is bad but the vaKKcine is good

[@sondragonzalez6764]

That’s you. The majority of people I see smoking it in my immediate family, they have changed their personality. I hate what I see.

[@cherylyoke4872]

Your spelling and punctuation may be suffering from the marijuana use. Have you gotten a brain scan? You sound like my friend sounded when she was 44. She’s now in assisted living and has dementia. I never used and I still am a teacher, in my 70’s and study foreign languages as a hobby.

[@shannondelima3028]

Very misleading representation of Marijuana to only focus on heavy users' brain scans. And the effects on adolescents' brains is well known so fair enough on that point, but what about people in their 30's, 40's and beyond who want to relax with a few hits to unwind at the end of the day? Worse than alcohol? Lol. Please. And reducing blood flow is the main cause of damage? In moderate users too? Idk about any of you but my experience is the opposite...way more creativity, insightfulness and drawing more connections with different brain regions.... the whole brain literally lights up. But you want to focus on people who abuse the drug....ok. Thanks. We already know the stereotype so I guess thanks for stating the obvious?

[@BradKittelTTH]

at 68 I write on keyboard at 150-200 wpm while listening to lectures like this and think at speeds I never dreamt of with a great memory too. I am creative and freed from unhappiness of youth, though I agree, while younger, THC is not necessarily a good thing. I feel smarter than ever but do feel inclined to decline my consumption of THC. So there are many things to consider, saffron, hmmm. okay, how much difference in the the addictions. Coffee use drops when my T consumption but I am purposeful. The Book of Wibblry and Wub is about how that kid who commits suicide comes back to live again. Wow. Hard choices unless I go drop $4,000 for a checkup. Physically I am in my best fitness, shredded, doing dips, Chinese Plank pushups on fingertips and laughing at the masses that can not do it followed up by doing the splits. If you had said with my broken back and 55 years of scoliosis pain, that would be me now, I would say you were really high, for that is a fantasy. I live that fantasy daily, pain free. Why, because I can believe it is possible. Wii halucinate our reality and how our spirit expresses itself. Be Careful what you think.

[@stillholding4975]

This amen dude is questionable

[@nellgibsongodfather]

Maybe you just don’t like what you are hearing

[@david7putvin]

There is a big difference between “why does your brain LOOK old” and “your brain is literally aged”. Again, Dr. Amens interpretations are nothing more than interpretations. Check the scientific literature on Cannabis because Dr. Amen is NOT actually educated in Cannabis. He knows of marijuana and knows very little about actual cannabis products or pricing or it’s medical uses.

[@brendansmyth5053]

Education is key after all. I’d rather listen to Dr Raphael Mechoulam than these uneducated idiots.

[@amberhall6438]

actually the most successful person is the FOLLOWER. the ones who fit in and stay part of the herd. Marijuana makes people NOT be followers. I teach about brain health and I think this dr is full of ish, we actually have Canna receptors in our body and as a daily user for 35 years that teaches brain health , I am not on a single medication,even aspirin.I don't drink alcohol either. I am a musician and that uses the whole brain. I am not aging like others my age and i say canna use is 100% the reason and music .. The real problem with kids is the VAPE pen. horrid for the brain.

[@cherylyoke4872]

Have you had a brain scan while playing music? Are you really using your whole brain? How long does it take to learn new material? Do you do any other mental activities besides playing music?

[@AlphaEntries]

This is truly a medical propaganda