• Although Cigarette use is declineing among middle-added People in the United States, Cannabis uses is increasing.
  • Cannabis Smoke, Like Tobacco Smoke, Is Linked to An Increased Risk of Cancer and Lung Damage.
  • NOW, A Large-Scale Study Has Linked Heavy Cannabis Use With An Increased Risk of Dementia.
  • PEOPLE AGED OVER 45 WHO NEEDED ACTE HOSPITAL CARE DUE TO CANNABIS USE HAD A 72% GREATER RISK OF COPY A DEMINIA DIAGNOSIS WITHIN 5 YEARS THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse Reports That, in the United States, Cannabis Use Among Adults AGED 35-50 Reached an All-Time High in 2022. Submit 28% of Peopple Reported Having used it During the Previous Year, Share with 13% in 2012.

Negative Health Effects From Cannabis Are More Likely with Heavy Use. Usual cannabis smoking (Long-Term, More than eleven to Day) You have been Linked to Cancers of the Lungs, Mouth and Throat, As Well As Cognitive Impairment, and Even Psychosis.

And Acute Effects, Such As Cyclic Nausea and Vomiting Along With Hot Bathing and Chronic Cannabis Use (Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome), Impaired Coordination and Performance, Anxiety, Suicidal Ideation, and Psychotic Symptoms, Can Lead to Emergency Room Hospitalization.

Now, A Study of 6 Million People AGED OVER 45 Has Found That Thue Who Have Needed Acute Care After Using Cannabis Had an Increased Risk of Developing Dementia in the 5 Or 10 Years Following Hospital Attendance.

The Canadian Study, Which Appears in Jama Neurologysuggests that those with cannabis use severe engough to require hospital Care Are Almost Four Times as Likely to prescribe Dementia diagnosis with 5 years as the General Population.

Steve Allder, MD, Consultant Neurologist at Re: Cognition Health, Not Involved in the Study, Told Medical News Today That:

“This is a Landmark Study Due to its Large Sample Size (Over 6 Million People) and Longitudinal Design. By examining outcomes over This period, The Refers Were Uble to Provide Insights into the Long-Term Cognitive Risks of Cannabis Use Seriously Serious Aough To Result in Emergency or Hospital.”

Acute Cannabis Use-Linked Care Linked To Higher Dementia Risk

The Study, Which Ran from 2008 to 2021, include total of 6,086,794 People. All were over 45 Years Old, with Mean Age of 55.2 Years, At The Start of the Study, and Had no History of Dementia.

The Refectchers Notted That, Between 2008 and 2021, Annual Rates of Acute Care Due to Cannabis Use Increase Greatly, From About Seven to 38 per 100,000 People. For People Anged 45-64, Annual Incident Acute Care Increased Fivefold, and for Those Anged 65 and over there was at 26.7-fold increased.

A Total of 16,275 People (0.3%) Required Acute Hospital Care Due To Cannabis Use During the Study.

AT the 5-YEAR POINT, 5% OF THOSE WITH ACTE CARE FOR CANNABIS, 3.6% OF THOSE WITH ALL-CAUSE ACTE CARE, AND 1.3% OF THE GENERAL POPULATION HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH DEMINIA.

Those Needing Acute Care for Cannabis Use Were 3.9 Times As Likely As The General Population to Reieve A Dementia Diagnosis During the Following 5 Years. After 10 Years, 18.6% of Those With Cannabis Use-Related Acute Admissions Had Been Diagnosed with Dementia.

However, The Researchers Note That the Risk of Dementia Diagnosis Following A Cannabis Admission Was Lower Than For Those Needing Acute Care for Alcohol Abuse.

And Rebecca Edelmayer, PHD, Alzheimer’s Association Vice President of Scientific Engagement, Cautioned That: “Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias Are Very Complex and Have Many Risk Factors. We Need to Look At Dementia Risk from All Angles to Truly Unders.

WHY MIGHT CANNABIS INCREASE RISK?

Previous Studies have suggested negative cognitive effects from regular use of cannabis, particularly on WORKING MEMORYAttention and Decision Making.

So a potential link to dementia is not surprising. Allder suggested a number of mechaanisms that might explain the link, including:

  • Neurotoxicity, as high concentrations of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) May Damage Neurons or Interference With Synaptic Pruning and Neurogenesis, Specially in Agraing Brains
  • Vascular Effects – Cannabis Use Has Been Linked to Increased Risk of Hypertension and Cerebrovascular Incidents Like Stroke – Bown Known Risk Factors Formentia
  • Mental Health Links – Heavy Cannabis Users Offten Have Higher Rates Of Depression, Anxiety, Or Psychotic Disorders, Which Are Independently Associated With Cognitive Decline Decline Decline Decline
  • HEAD INJURIES, Since Cannabis Intoxication Can increased The Risk of Falls or Accidents, Leading to Traumatic Brain Injuries – A Strong Contributor to Dementia Risk.

However, He Told MNT That, While “Cannabis might not directly ’cause’ dementia, (…) it contributes to complex web of risks vascular, psychological and neurological, which Together elevate the Likelihood of Dementia Diagnosis.”

The Study Authors Added A Note of Caution About Their Observed Association, Noting That People Requireing Acute Care for Cannabis Use Were More Likely to have other Risk Factors Formentia, Such As Tobacco or Alcohol Use, Than The General Population.

Brain Changes Coudinin Link Between Dementia Risk and Heavy Cannabis Use

While This Observational Study Cannot Draw Conclusions About A Causative Effect of Cannabis, Brain Changes Observed in People Who Use The Substance are similar to Those Seen In Dementia, As Allder Explained:

“Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), The Psychoactive Component of Cannabis, Affects The Hippocampus which is crucial for memory formation. Long-Term Exposure to Thc you have been Linked to reduced Hippocampal Volume, which is Also a Hallmark of Alzheimer’s Disease.”

“In Adionion,” He tob US, “Chronic Cannabis Users May Show Reduced Gray Matter Density in Brain Areas Responsible For Executive Function, Emotion Regulation and Memory.”

“Cannabis Use May Also Impair Neuroplasticity by Lowering Levels of Brain-Derned Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). Regular cannabis usest dirting midlife you have been associated with disruptions in White matter integrity, which can interferent with communication Between different Regions, ”Said Allder.

“Collectively, also Structural and Functional Changes Can Undermine Cognitive Reserve and Potentially Accelerate Age-Related Neurodegeneration,” I have added.

Cannabis: Medical and Recreational Use Increase in Older Adults

The Study Authors Note That, In Canada, Acute Care for Cannabis Use in Older People You have increased since the liberalization of medicinal use in 2014, and the legalization of nonmedical use in 2018.

Medical Use of Cannabis Products Among Older People is Increaseing, Following Anecdal Evidence That Cannabis Products May Help Sub Symptoms of Dementia and OTHER neurodegenerative neurodegenerative. However, There is no scientific evidence for this.

Edelmayer Told MNT That Only Small Clinical Trials Were Being Carried Out To Investigate This and It Is, As Yet, Unknown Whether Any Potential Benefits Might Outweigh Risks.

She Emphasized The Need For More Research, Interventional Including, Randomized Studies to Test The Effects of First Products.

“Importantly, The Study Suggests that Severe Cannabis Use, rather than casual or moderate use, is Linked to Increased Dementia Risk.

– Steve Allder, MD