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Jun 1, 2023 · Yes, well, Todd, cannabis use is rising among older adults, as you said, and that is—just to define older adults, that is those who are age 65 and older. Using data from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health, we know that past year use of marijuana, as it's called in that survey, in the year 2021 was a little more than 7% in this age group.
- What Might Be Behind This Trend?
- What Conditions Are Older Adults Using Cannabis for?
- What Are The Risks For Older People Using Medical Cannabis?
- Cardiac Health and Cannabis Use
- Medication Interactions
- Changes in Thinking, Both Pro and Con
- What's The Bottom Line?
A confluence of factors seems to be responsible, including the decrease in stigma associated with cannabis use and the increased interest in the use of medical marijuana by older patients. Stigma is a complicated issue, but most would agree that the stigma associated with cannabis use is lessening, especially for medical cannabis. In a recent poll,...
Studies show that older adults commonly use medical cannabis for the same conditions younger patients do: pain, insomnia, neuropathy, and anxiety.
This is new territory, as either there haven't been large numbers of older adults who report using medical cannabis, or if they have been using it they have kept it quiet, due to its illegality and due to the stigma. Medical cannabis is typically well tolerated among older adults; however, as with all medications, there is no such thing as a free l...
Cannabis is known to increase heart rate and can increase blood pressure, though there doesn't seem to be much if any quality evidence directly linking cannabis use with coronary events, according to a recent review by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Still, the authors of this review do recommend screening people with coronary di...
Older people tend to have comorbid health conditions and may be taking multiple medications. Cannabis has about 600 chemicals in it, and in theory the two main active ingredients in cannabis, THC and CBD, could either increase or decrease the blood levels of other drugs you are taking by affecting the enzymes in your liver that help metabolize your...
The psychoactivity, or the high that cannabis causes, is another potential concern for older adults, especially those at risk for confusion and dementia. These days, with the ability to buy cannabis in medical dispensaries, there is more control over the types or strains of cannabis that one can buy and consume, and it is easier to avoid the high b...
Cannabis use among the elderly is growing, as there is more public acceptance and reduced stigma. Medical cannabis is increasingly viewed as an effective option for managing insomnia and chronic pain. It's key to have an informed discussion with your doctor to weigh the safety risks, especially if you have cardiac issues, are taking multiple medica...
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Mar 26, 2021 · It has been well established that heavy marijuana use in both young and middle-aged adults can cause mild functional and structural brain impairments affecting attention, processing speed, motor coordination, verbal memory, and executive function. 14,15 Although these effects may be more variable with lighter use in older adults, they may be ...
Jun 21, 2018 · The present review summarizes the available literature on marijuana use among older middle-aged adults (50-64 years old) and older adults (65 years or older), including (a) prevalence of marijuana use, (b) patterns of marijuana use, and (c) correlates of marijuana use.
- Shawnta L Lloyd, Catherine W Striley
- 10.1177/2333721418781668
- 2018
- Jan-Dec 2018
Feb 17, 2023 · For older adults, generally, the available evidence suggests cannabis use may be associated with greater frequencies of mental health issues, substance use, and acute healthcare use, and the benefit-to-risk ratio is unclear.
- 10.1371/journal.pone.0281826
- 2023
- PLoS One. 2023; 18(2): e0281826.
Oct 1, 2022 · Key Points. Cannabidiol reduces the appetite and/or body weight or body mass index in most of the clinical trials. Most of the studies included in the present review raised some concerns in terms of risk of bias. Open in a separate window.
People also ask
Is cannabis use rising among older adults?
Does marijuana use affect health outcomes among older adults?
Can medical cannabis help the elderly?
In this Perspectives article, we review special considerations pertinent to older adults-specifically, the impact of cannabis on cognition and on falls and injuries, its drug interactions, and its potential medicinal applications for treating the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia.
