Researchers are sounding the alarm about the link between weed and dementia.
A new study found people who visit the hospital for cannabis-related problems are up to 72 percent more likely than their peers to develop the memory-robbing disorder.
Perhaps more worryingly, cannabis users were also more likely to get dementia than people hospitalized for alcohol problems, suggesting that marijuana may even be worse for the brain than booze.
While many claim that marijuana is safe due to being ‘natural’, it is known to create problems with memory and learning, distort perception, difficulty in thinking and problem-solving, and loss of coordination, all of which are linked to dementia.
Dr Colleen Webber, co-author of the study and a scientist at the Bruyère Health Research Institute in Ottawa, Canada, said: ‘Regular cannabis use might directly increase the risk of dementia through changes in brain structure.
‘It’s also possible that regular cannabis use increases the risk of other established risk factors for dementia, including high blood pressure, head trauma and other injuries, and a higher risk for depression and social isolation.’
Nearly 15 percent, or 49.5 million Americans, and about 2.3 million people in the UK regularly use cannabis
In the US, recreational use is legal in 24 states while 38 states allow its use for medicinal purposes.
Frequently visiting the emergency room at your local hospital due to smoking weed may increase your risk for developing dementia by 72 percent
For the latest study, the researchers studied over six million people aged 45 to 105 years old from Ontario, Canada, who had no history of dementia between January 2008 and December 2021.
Out of this, they identified 16,275 people who had developed dementia and had a history of cannabis use that required acute care – defined as a visit to the emergency department (ED) or hospitalization.
These people were then compared to people in three groups: individuals with an all-cause acute care visit; the general population and individuals with acute care due to alcohol.
Results showed that five percent of people aged 45 years or older who had received treatment for cannabis in acute care were diagnosed with dementia within five years.
On the other hand, only 1.3 percent of the general population (non smokers who do not require acute care) and 3.6 percent of individuals receiving care for another reason developed dementia in a five year span.
Meanwhile, 19 percent of people in the same group who had received cannabis-related care had developed dementia within 10 years.
Merely 5.5 percent of the general population and 14.8 people receiving care for another reason developed dementia in a decade’s time.
The study also found that the risk of dementia in individuals with acute care for cannabis was 31 percent lower over the next five years than individuals who required acute care for alcohol.
Pictured: Dr Daniel Myran, an author of the study and Associate Scientist at The Ottawa Hospital
Regular cannabis use can affect the brain, particularly areas responsible for memory, learning, attention, decision-making, coordination, emotion and reaction time.
Certain research suggests that long-term cannabis use may cause shrinkage of the hippocampus, responsible for forming new memories and learning, and reduce overall blood flow.
Shrinking (atrophy) of the hippocampus can often cause cognitive problems like memory issues, difficulty with attention, and impaired executive function – leading to dementia.
Long-term cannabis use can also impact cardiovascular health.
THC, a psychoactive compound found in cannabis, can make the heart beat faster and can raise blood pressure immediately after use.
Frequent weed intake can impact the blood pressure levels in the body and increase risk of stroke, heart disease and other vascular diseases in the long term.
This can affect the overall blood flow in the body and interfere in the proper functioning of the organs, including the brain.
The drug has seen a meteoric rise over the past decade, culminating in legal recreational use in 24 states.
Long-term or frequent cannabis use has also been linked to increased risk of psychosis or schizophrenia in some users.
However, the authors noted that more research is needed to establish a clear link between cannabis use and cognitive decline.
Dr Daniel Myran, an author of the study and Associate Scientist at The Ottawa Hospital said: ‘While we collectively need more research to better understand potential risks of regular cannabis use on cognition and dementia, we hope these findings can inform discussion between patients and healthcare providers.’
Last year, private cannabis prescriptions doubled – reaching nearly 180,000 – according to the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
The study was published in JAMA Neurology today.
