Study Finds Cannabis Use May Benefit Cognitive Performance in Older Adults

A recent study published in the journal Age and Ageing has shed new light on the impact of cannabis use on cognitive performance in older adults. The research, which analyzed data from the UK Biobank, found that cannabis use does not generally harm cognitive function in adults aged 60 and older, and may even offer some cognitive benefits. This study is significant as it challenges the common perception that cannabis use is detrimental to mental acuity in older populations

The UK Biobank study utilized a comprehensive dataset that included over 500,000 individuals aged 40 and older from across Great Britain, collected between 2006 and 2010. Specifically, the study focused on participants aged 60 and above, conducting both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. With 67,713 participants in the cross-sectional study and 52,002 in the longitudinal analysis, the average participant age was 67 years. This large-scale analysis provides a robust framework for understanding the relationship between cannabis use and cognitive health in aging adults

Researchers gathered cognitive data from 2014 to 2019 and cannabis use data from self-reported questionnaires during 2016–2017 and 2022–2023. The cognitive assessments included tests for attention, executive function, processing speed, visual memory, and working memory. Participants were classified based on their cannabis use history, including lifetime users and non-users, with further distinctions between current and former users. Regular use was defined as more than once per month, offering a detailed view of usage patterns

The findings revealed that past cannabis use was associated with improved cognitive performance in some areas, such as attention and visual memory. Interestingly, early onset, duration, and frequency of use were linked to better cognitive outcomes in certain domains, though some inconsistencies were noted. For instance, starting cannabis use before age 17 was associated with poorer working memory later in life. Researchers emphasized the need for further studies to explore these complex relationships and to inform guidelines for cannabis use among older adults

While the study contributes valuable insights, it also acknowledges potential limitations, such as recall bias and the inability to differentiate between medical and recreational cannabis use. The absence of data on dosage, specific cannabinoids, and methods of administration further highlights the need for more nuanced research. These findings align with other studies, such as a clinical trial published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, which found that a low-dose cannabis extract could alleviate cognitive decline in dementia patients

The broader implications of this research underscore the growing interest in cannabis as a therapeutic agent for age-related cognitive decline. As the population of older adults continues to grow, understanding the potential benefits and risks of cannabis use is crucial for public health policy and individual decision-making. With ongoing research and discussions, such as those featured in the Healer webinar series, the scientific community continues to explore the role of cannabinoids in managing symptoms of cognitive disorders