A study published in the journal Age and Ageing found that older adults with a history of cannabis use exhibited superior cognitive performance and less significant age-related declines in executive function.
An Israeli research team evaluated cognitive performance in a cohort of over 67,000 older adults using data from the UK Biobank. 52,002 participants completed two computerized cognitive assessments that evaluated attention, executive function, processing speed, working memory, and visual memory. The participants self-reported their cannabis consumption patterns, and then researchers classified them into two groups (lifetime cannabis use or no lifetime use).
The study found that participants with a history of cannabis use performed better across all cognitive domains (attention, executive function, processing speed, visual and working memory) compared to non-users. Another finding revealed an association between past cannabis use and slower decline in executive function. The researchers noted that these associations were primarily driven by participants with a history of former use, while current use experience showed a more limited association. The longitudinal analysis indicated a slower cognitive decline among former cannabis users, and no significant associations were observed for current cannabis users.
Future research on the underlying mechanisms is critical in order to develop policies that promote safe and effective cannabis use in aging populations. A growing number of senior citizens report using cannabis to manage pain, anxiety, and other health problems; this trend highlights the need for evidence-based medical cannabis education for older patient populations. The researchers believe that their research provides useful insights into the cannabis use patterns of older adults. The researchers explained, “While cognitive harms are often assumed among older cannabis users, our results suggest a more nuanced picture. They hope the findings promote more balanced messaging that promotes informed policy decision-making and productive patient-provider discussions about medical cannabis.
Sources: Age and Ageing, NORML
