Where there’s smoke, there’s … asthma?

That’s the concern among some experts, as a recent study from the City University of New York (CUNY) identified a link between cannabis legalization and asthma among kids and teens.

The research, published in the journal Preventive Medicine in its Feb. 2024 issue, found that in states where marijuana is legal, the share of teens with asthma is slightly higher than in states where it remains illegal.

The recreational use of cannabis is now legalized in 24 states.

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In the study, a research team at the CUNY School of Public Health (SPH) analyzed data pulled from the 2011-2019 National Survey on Children’s Health, which comprises a “representative sample of the population of minor children in the U.S.,” according to a press release from the university.

The sample consisted of 227,451 U.S. children 17 years old and younger, with an average age of 8.56. 

“In the first nationally representative study of cannabis use and asthma in the U.S., a consistent positive linear relationship (dose-response) was observed between frequency of cannabis use and asthma prevalence among both youth and adults,” Renee Goodwin, CUNY SPH professor and lead author of the study, told Fox News Digital.

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“The relationship was not explained by confounding cigarette smoking, and an even stronger relationship between the frequency of blunt smoking and asthma was found,” he added. (Blunts are hollowed-out cigars filled with cannabis.)

Exposure to secondhand smoke has historically been a key factor in childhood asthma, the researchers noted.

There are currently some 4.5 million children under age 18 living with asthma in the U.S., according to the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America.

Exposure to secondhand smoke has historically been a key factor in childhood asthma, the researchers noted. (iStock)

As Goodwin pointed out, there is “very little information available” on the potential respiratory health risks associated with cannabis use. 

“It took decades for the public to receive information on the impact of cigarette smoking and exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke on respiratory and lung health,” he pointed out.

Goodwin recommends people consider that smoking cannabis may have health risks similar to those posed by cigarettes, especially for people with asthma. 

“The accessibility of marijuana and other cannabis products has increased exponentially in the last three years.”

Just because there is “no public health education” on the potential health risks of cannabis use doesn’t mean they don’t exist, Goodwin warned. 

“The commercialization and advertising of cannabis use by cannabis companies and state and local governments’ promotion of cannabis use for all adults is the only information the public is receiving, which may lead people to believe it is risk-free,” he said. 

“That is not based on science or any data on long-term outcomes.”

“Because these products are so easily accessible, the long-term health implications are worrisome and likely to increase in frequency and severity across the spectrum of occurrences,” an addiction doctor told Fox News Digital. (iStock)

The researcher also indicated that today’s cannabis may pose a greater risk than that of decades past.

“Products commonly sold in vapes and other forms of cannabis administration have THC concentrations upwards of 90% versus the ‘joints’ of decades ago, which were approximately 2.5% THC,” Goodwin said.

Cannabis oils and waxes are also chemically manufactured substances, which pose their own risks, the expert warned.

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“The potential short- and long-term effects of exposure to this level of THC on the human brain, respiratory or other aspects of physical health have never been studied,” he said. 

“Consumers should demand that information on safety and purity — as well as dose, potency, and health and safety risks — be available in any commercial cannabis retail outlet, and that the state governments enforce the laws their states have passed,” Goodwin went on.

“Products commonly sold in vapes and other forms of cannabis administration have THC concentrations upwards of 90% versus the ‘joints’ of decades ago, which were approximately 2.5% THC,” the author of a new study said. (iStock)

Dr. Eric Heffelfinger, staff physician at Caron Treatment Centers, an addiction center in Pennsylvania, was not involved in the research but commented on the findings.

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“This study is significant not just in its size, but in its findings that asthma risks increase significantly for those who smoke marijuana, especially those who smoke blunts for more than 20 days per month,” he told Fox News Digital. 

This was not surprising, the doctor noted, as previous studies have shown that nicotine is linked to asthma risk.

“We expected this to be the case for marijuana, but now we have the data to prove it,” said Heffelfinger, who spent more than 25 years specializing in pulmonology and critical care before transitioning to addiction medicine.

There is “very little information available” on the potential respiratory health risks associated with cannabis use, the study author said. (iStock)

The actual increase in asthma risk could be even higher than the study implies, he noted, as the data was collected in 2020 and likely underestimates current exposure.

“The accessibility of marijuana and other cannabis products has increased exponentially in the last three years,” he said. “We anticipate that the number of people impacted with asthma because of marijuana use will also have increased significantly.”

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This applies not only to those who use marijuana directly, but also to people who have increased secondhand exposure, Heffelfinger added.

“The known health impacts from marijuana and cannabis products – increased asthma, psychiatric symptoms, psychosis and cannabis use disorder — are just the tip of the iceberg,” he warned. 

The recreational use of cannabis is now legalized in 24 states. (© DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK)

“There is so much we don’t know because these are genetically and chemically enhanced products with delivery methods such as smoking or vaping that cause lung damage,” he went on. 

“Because these products are so easily accessible, the long-term health implications are worrisome and likely to increase in frequency and severity across the spectrum of occurrences.”

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When contacted by Fox News Digital for comment, the National Cannabis Industry Association responded by stating that it is a business trade association and does not have a medical expert immediately on hand to discuss the new report.

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Alzheimer’s disease has been considered something that happens from within, generally speaking — but for the first time, researchers have identified cases that were triggered by a specific medical treatment.

The most common type of dementia, Alzheimer’s is caused by a buildup of amyloid proteins in the brain, with risk factors including age, family history, unhealthy lifestyle behaviors and certain medical conditions.

But in a study published in Nature Medicine, researchers from the University College London (UCL) linked growth hormone treatments to the development of Alzheimer’s, according to a UCL press release.

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The researchers studied patients who received a type of human growth hormone that was extracted from the pituitary glands of deceased people (c-hGH). 

The c-hGH has been shown to lead to greater amounts of amyloid-beta protein in the brain, the researchers found.

Of eight people studied who were treated with c-hGH as children, five developed symptoms of dementia and had already been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or met the criteria of the disease.

All of them were between ages 38 and 55 when they began experiencing symptoms of cognitive decline, the paper indicated. Genetic testing confirmed that the early disease was not inherited.

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“We have found that it is possible for amyloid-beta pathology to be transmitted and contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s disease,” said first author Dr. Gargi Banerjee, a researcher at the UCL Institute of Prion Diseases, in the press release.

“This transmission occurred following treatment with a now-obsolete form of growth hormone, and involved repeated treatments with contaminated material, often over several years,” he went on.

“There is no suggestion whatsoever that Alzheimer’s disease can be transmitted between individuals during activities of daily life or routine medical care.”

The researchers emphasized that Alzheimer’s disease cannot be transmitted from person-to-person contact.

“There is no suggestion whatsoever that Alzheimer’s disease can be transmitted between individuals during activities of daily life or routine medical care,” said the lead author of the research, Professor John Collinge, director of the UCL Institute of Prion Diseases and a consultant neurologist at UCLH, in the release.

“The patients we have described were given a specific and long-discontinued medical treatment that involved injecting patients with material now known to have been contaminated with disease-related proteins,” he added.

Amyloid deposition in brain tissue, seen in post-mortem analysis, as captured by University College London researchers. (University College London)

The type of growth hormone treatment named in the study was suspended in 1985 when it was found to cause Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in some people. 

CJD is a degenerative brain disorder that causes dementia and death.

The findings should be used to help prevent any “accidental transmission via other medical or surgical procedures” in the future, Coolidge stated.

Fox News Digital reached out to the UCL team requesting additional comment.

The most common type of dementia, Alzheimer’s is caused by a buildup of amyloid proteins in the brain. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo)

Dr. Rehan Aziz, a geriatric psychiatrist with Jersey Shore University Medical Center, was not involved in the study but recognized that the paper shows potential evidence for a “very rare but transmissible form” of Alzheimer’s disease.

“The study describes just five Alzheimer’s patients out of the more than 1,800 people who were known to have received growth hormone in this way,” Aziz noted. 

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“Remarkably, the patients all developed Alzheimer’s dementia at young ages, though several of them had complicated histories that may have contributed.”

The unusually young age at which these patients developed symptoms suggested they did not have the usual form of Alzheimer’s associated with old age, Aziz said.

“The research raises the question of whether beta-amyloid protein can propagate itself, leading to cascading memory loss and worsening Alzheimer’s pathology,” he added.

A man who suffers from Alzheimer’s prepares to receive a PET scan. (Michael Robinson Chávez/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Christopher Weber, PhD, director of global science initiatives at the Alzheimer’s Association, was also not involved in the UNC research but reiterated that Alzheimer’s is not contagious.

“You can’t catch Alzheimer’s by taking care of someone with Alzheimer’s,” he told Fox News Digital. “Alzheimer’s disease is not transmissible through the air, or by touching or being near someone with Alzheimer’s.”

“We shouldn’t put amyloid-beta into people’s brains, either accidentally or on purpose.”

In analyzing the study, Weber noted a few limitations.

“Based on the handful of cases they examined, the authors propose the idea of a ‘rare acquired’ Alzheimer’s, a third explanation for the beginnings of the disease along with sporadic Alzheimer’s and genetic Alzheimer’s,” he said. 

“However, the study population (eight in this paper) is very small, and these are the only known cases in the literature. Thus, this possible third type of Alzheimer’s is a novel idea, but needs replication and confirmation to add credibility.”

“You can’t catch Alzheimer’s by taking care of someone with Alzheimer’s,” an expert told Fox News Digital. “Alzheimer’s disease is not transmissible through the air, or by touching or being near someone with Alzheimer’s.” (iStock)

The possibility of creating abnormal amyloid buildup isn’t new, Weber noted, as it’s been demonstrated via injections into animals’ brains.

“We also transfer human Alzheimer’s genes into animals to initiate abnormal, Alzheimer’s-like processes in their brains — but these things do not happen in daily life or in routine medical procedures,” he said. “They are extraordinary occurrences.”

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Although the type of transmission of amyloid beta identified in the UNC study is rare, Weber emphasized that “the scientific and clinical communities must understand the possible risks and ensure that all methods of pathogen transmission are eliminated.”

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One of these methods is the “complete and conscientious sterilization of surgical instruments,” Weber said, which is common practice today. 

“Bottom line: We shouldn’t put amyloid-beta into people’s brains, either accidentally or on purpose,” he said. “And appropriate measures should be in place to ensure that doesn’t happen.”

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Energy drinks could pose a risk to young brains, according to new research.

Those who consumed energy drinks — which are intended to boost energy through the use of caffeine or other stimulants — were shown to have a higher risk of mental health issues, including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts.

These findings stem from a review by Fuse, the Centre for Translational Research in Public Health at Teesside University and Newcastle University in the U.K.

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In the review, published in the journal Public Health, researchers looked at data from 57 studies of over 1.2 million children and young people from more than 21 countries who consumed energy drinks.

The researchers conducted this review as a follow-up to an initial review in 2016.

“We have found an even greater list of mental and physical health outcomes associated with children and young people consuming energy drinks,” lead author Amelia Lake, professor of public health nutrition at Teesside University, told Fox News Digital.

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“We repeated [the review] only to find an ever-growing evident space that suggests the consumption of these drinks is associated with negative health outcomes.”

The caffeine content of energy drinks ranges from 50 mg to 505 mg per serving, compared to 90 mg in 8.45 ounces of coffee, 50 mg in 8.45 ounces of tea and 34 mg in 16.9 ounces of soda, the researchers noted.

Insufficient sleep can negatively impact a child’s brain development, which can lead to learning problems. (iStock)

Based on the findings, the researchers and other U.K. health organizations are calling for the government to ban sales of energy drinks to children under age 16.

“This evidence suggests that energy drinks have no place in the diets of children and young people,” said Lake. 

“Policymakers should follow the example from countries that have placed age restrictions on their sales to children.”

Experts weigh in

Erin Palinski-Wade, a New Jersey-based registered dietitian, was not involved in the new research but said its findings did not surprise her.

“Energy drinks are not a safe choice for children and no safe guidelines have been established for caffeine consumption in those under the age of 18,” she told Fox News Digital.

“This evidence suggests that energy drinks have no place in the diets of children and young people.”

Caffeine has a half-life of six to eight hours, she noted — which means it takes that long for it to leave the system.

“Even small amounts of caffeine can impact quality and quantity of sleep, and poor sleep is directly correlated with a decline in both mental and physical health — in adults as well as children,” Palinski-Wade noted.

“Energy drinks are not a safe choice for children and no safe guidelines have been established for caffeine consumption in those under the age of 18,” a nutritionist told Fox News Digital. (iStock)

“A lack of quality sleep can lead to impaired cognitive functions such as decision-making, conflict resolution, working memory and learning, along with changes in behavior, mood and an increased risk of depression.”

Insufficient sleep can also negatively impact a child’s brain development, she added, which can lead to learning problems and more frequent negative emotions.

“A lack of sleep can also impact memory and concentration, making it harder to perform academically, especially if sleep is chronically interrupted,” the expert said.

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Even in healthy adults, daily caffeine intake should not exceed 400 mg per day, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

“With an average energy drink containing 200 mg of caffeine or more, it can be easy to exceed this intake, even as an adult,” said Palinski-Wade. “For children, these drinks are best avoided.”

Insufficient sleep can negatively impact a child’s brain development, which can lead to learning problems and more frequent negative emotions, experts said. (iStock)

Dr. Alex Dimitriu, a psychiatrist and sleep doctor who is also the founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine in California, was not involved in the study but offered his expert input.

“The concern with any exogenous substance in children under the age of 21 is that the human brain is not done forming until people are about the age of 26,” Dimitriu told Fox News Digital. 

“For this reason, substance use, including energy drinks, can markedly alter development, and certainly build patterns that resemble drug-seeking behavior as children look to external ‘fixes,’ for possible mood, focus or energy symptoms.”

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The impact of energy drinks on sleep is particularly concerning, as the effect can be “bidirectional,” noted Dimitriu.

“Poor sleep may lead kids to use energy drinks, and energy drinks can lead to poor sleep,” he said. 

“Because sleep is essential for brain development, anything that diminishes sleep quality can affect cognitive and emotional performance, both in the long and short term.”

“Because sleep is essential for brain development, anything that diminishes sleep quality can affect cognitive and emotional performance, both in the long and short term,” an expert told Fox News Digital. (iStock)

Many people with undiagnosed ADHD also tend to gravitate toward stimulants, energy drinks and caffeine, Dimitriu pointed out — “so it is essential to also understand what the motivation is for children using these substances, and to treat underlying causes.” 

“Lack of sleep is a huge cause of emotional and cognitive disturbance, for both adults and children in the U.S.,” he added.

Potential limitations

The review did have some limitations, the researchers acknowledged.

Some of the included studies were lacking in quality and design, while others did not clearly define the ages of the participants. They also do not prove that energy drinks cause the observed health issues, the journal entry stated.

Many people with undiagnosed ADHD also tend to gravitate toward stimulants, energy drinks and caffeine, a psychologist pointed out. (iStock)

“We accept the evidence is from mostly cross-sectional studies, exploring association rather than causation,” Lake told Fox News Digital. 

“Experimental studies to establish causation have both ethical and feasibility issues.”

Industry associations and regulators react

In response to the study, a spokesperson from the American Beverage Association (ABA) provided a statement to Fox News Digital.

“It’s important to note that neither study found that energy drinks cause sleep problems or any health issues and that the authors acknowledge there may be other reasons for their findings,” the American Beverage Association said in a statement to Fox News Digital. (iStock)

“Energy drinks have been enjoyed by billions of people around the world for more than 30 years and are recognized by government food safety agencies worldwide, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Health Canada and the European Food Safety Authority, as safe for consumption,” the group said. 

“It’s important to note that neither study found that energy drinks cause sleep problems or any health issues — and that the authors acknowledge there may be other reasons for their findings.”

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The ABA spokesperson also noted that a mainstream energy drink contains 80mg of caffeine per 8 oz. serving — “which is approximately half the amount of caffeine found in a similar-sized serving of coffeehouse coffee.”

The association added, “America’s leading energy drink manufacturers voluntarily go beyond all federal requirements when it comes to responsible labeling and marketing practices, including displaying total caffeine content from all sources and to not promote excessive or unduly rapid consumption of their drinks.”

“The FDA is reviewing the findings of the paper,” the agency told Fox News Digital in a statement.  (iStock)

When contacted for comment, the U.K. Food Standards Agency (FDA) directed Fox News Digital to its guidelines for caffeine consumption by children and teens, as specified below.

“Single doses of caffeine up to 3mg/kg body weight (bw) and daily intakes of caffeine up to 3mg/kg bw do not raise safety concerns. For a 10-year-old child weighing 30kg, this would work out to around 90mg of caffeine. Even a small can of energy drink can contain up to 200mg of caffeine and exceed the recommended daily intake for a child.”

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Fox News Digital also reached out to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requesting comment.

“In general, the FDA does not comment on specific studies, but evaluates them as part of the body of evidence to further our understanding about a particular issue and assist in our mission to protect public health,” an agency spokesperson said. “The FDA is reviewing the findings of the paper.”

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Fox News Digital reached out to Red Bull and Monster Beverage Corporation requesting comment on the review’s findings.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

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