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Cannabis Use in Older Adults: A Perspective
Haley V Solomon1, Aaron P Greenstein, Lynn E DeLisi
1From Harvard Medical School; Harvard South Shore Psychiatry Residency Program, Brockton, MA (Drs. Solomon and Greenstein); Department of Psychiatry, Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Boston, MA (Drs. Solomon and Greenstein); Cambridge Hospital, Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, MA (Dr. DeLisi).
Harvard Review of Psychiatry
|March 4, 2021
Summary
Cannabis use is rising in older adults, but safety data is limited. More research is needed on cannabis effects, drug interactions, and potential benefits for dementia in seniors.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Increasing prevalence of cannabis use in adults aged 65+ for medical and recreational reasons.
- Aging involves metabolic shifts, comorbidities, and polypharmacy, necessitating safety evaluations for cannabis.
- Limited evidence exists on cannabis effects in older adults, primarily from younger cohorts and small observational studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review special considerations for cannabis use in older adults.
- To examine the impact of cannabis on cognition, falls, and injuries in the geriatric population.
- To explore potential medicinal applications of cannabinoids for behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on cannabis use in older adults.
- Analysis of studies focusing on cognition, falls, injuries, and drug interactions.
- Evaluation of evidence for cannabinoid efficacy in treating dementia-related symptoms.
Main Results:
- Knowledge gaps exist regarding cannabis's role in geriatric brain health, injury risk, and drug interactions.
- Some studies show promising results for cannabinoids in treating BPSD, but findings are inconsistent.
- Current evidence is insufficient to draw firm conclusions on cannabis safety and efficacy in older adults.
Conclusions:
- Controlled research trials specifically in geriatric populations are essential.
- Further investigation is needed to understand the effects and risks of cannabis in this vulnerable demographic.
- Premature to conclude on the therapeutic benefits of cannabis for dementia without consistent evidence.
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