Marijuana use in older adults may raise dementia risks - especially after ER visits or hospital stays. Findings stem from a growing body of research showing that a steady increase in use of marijuana among older adults often links to various health concerns.
A study by the University of California used data from over 15,000 adults age 65 and older and found a sharp increase in prevalence of marijuana use over the past month among this population - rising from a 4.8% increase in 2021 to 7.0% in 2023. Scientists identified a link between rise in use and such factors as residing in a state with legal medical marijuana, being female, and other health issues including heart conditions, diabetes, and hypertension, in addition to other sociodemographic and clinic outcomes.
A second study was done in Ontario, Canada where marijuana has been legal for recreational use since 2018. Health data from over 6 million individuals was used - with a focus on adults age 45 & older over a 14-year period - to assess whether marijuana use that led to an emergency department (ED) visit or hospitalization could be associated with future dementia diagnosis. Findings showed that between 2008-2021, marijuana-related emergency care increased dramatically in adults age 65 & older, with a 26.7-fold increase. Among adults age 45-64, the rate increased 5-fold. This surge reflects both the growing normalization of marijuana and a growing number of older adults experimenting with or becoming dependent on its use.
As use has increased, so has concern about marijuana's potential consequences related to brain health. Study findings showed that those who required emergency care for marijuana-related reasons were significantly more likely to develop dementia. Within 5 years, 5% of marijuana-related acute care patients were diagnosed with dementia - compared to 3.6% among individuals with other types of hospital visits, and 1.3% in the general population.
Other studies have shown the same association between heavy marijuana use and memory and cognitive decline - now, recent studies add to the concern that long-term use, heavy use, or cannabis use disorder (CUD) may also accelerate long-term neurodegeneration.
Growing use of marijuana can make older adults more vulnerable to age-related changes of the brain and possibility of unknown interactions with other health conditions or medications. As marijuana use grows in the older adult age group, targeted prevention and education strategies are urgently needed.
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