Medical Cannabis Is Not Associated with a Decrease in Activities of Daily Living in Older Adults

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Pharmacology
• Public Health

Background:

• The use of medical cannabis is increasing among the elderly population.
• Understanding its impact on functional status is crucial for this demographic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effects of herbal medical cannabis on the functional status of adults aged 65 and older.
• To assess changes in activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), pain, depression, and medication use.

Main Methods:

• A prospective observational study involving 119 patients (mean age 79.3) initiating cannabis treatment.
• Outcomes including ADL, IADL, pain, depression, and adverse events were measured at six months.
• Data collected from a specialized geriatric clinic between 2018-2020.

Main Results:

• No significant change in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scores (p=0.27).
• A significant improvement in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scores was observed (p=0.02).
• 36.1% of patients experienced adverse effects, with 1.7% requiring medical attention.

Conclusions:

• Medical cannabis treatment in older adults was not associated with a decrease in functional status over six months.
• While functional status was maintained or improved, potential adverse events necessitate careful monitoring in this population.