Improves memory and increases brain size: Marijuana is beneficial for people over 40.

Studies of cannabis's effects on the brain have mostly focused on adolescents. However, a new study by scientists CU Anschutz examines how cannabis use affects the brain of older people.

"More and more older adults are using cannabis. It's become more accessible and is used for different reasons than in younger people, such as improving sleep and managing chronic pain," says Anika Guha, a clinical psychologist and research fellow in the Department of Psychiatry at CU Anschutz. "Furthermore, people are living longer. We need to ask: what are the long-term effects of cannabis use as we age?"

The research team found that cannabis use in older adults was associated with greater brain volume in several regions and better cognitive performance in adults aged 40 to 77. Guha noted that she was surprised by the magnitude of the positive results. However, she emphasized that cannabis use research is complicated by numerous unknown variables, particularly because the composition and concentration of the cannabis products used by the study participants were unknown.

On the subject: How different ways of using cannabis affect the body: benefits and harms

"It's really important for us to consider both the potential benefits and the risks to understand this substance in the context of mental health, dementia, and other conditions," Guha explained. "There's still a lot to be learned."

The main finding was that higher lifetime cumulative cannabis use in middle-aged and older adults (the sample included 26,362 participants aged 40 to 77 years with a mean age of 55 years) was generally associated with larger brain volumes and better cognitive function.

Specifically, the researchers assessed brain regions associated with a high density of CB1 cannabinoid receptors, as they believed these were the areas most likely to be affected by cannabis use.

In addition, the researchers examined cognitive domains previously associated with cannabis use, including learning and memory, processing speed, attention, and executive function.

The researchers looked at specific areas of the brain and analyzed their individual volumes, rather than overall or total brain volume.

Some studies have reported cannabis's effects on gray matter in general. However, the study's authors wanted to take a more nuanced approach and examine the effects on specific brain regions, particularly those with a high density of CB1 receptors, as well as on cognitive processes, which are, of course, particularly important in the context of aging.

For example, the hippocampus was one such area because it contains many CB1 receptors, plays an important role in memory, especially as we age, and is linked to dementia.

What does a larger brain volume mean? It doesn't mean that bigger is always better, but with age, brain volume often decreases due to processes such as atrophy and neurodegeneration. This decrease is usually correlated with cognitive decline and an increased risk of dementia.

The researchers found that most of the brain regions studied demonstrated a positive relationship between volume and cognitive performance. In this sense, larger brain volume in the context of aging can be viewed as a potential preservation of brain volume and cognitive function—as opposed to the atrophy we typically expect with age.

Scientists looked at gender as an important factor to see if it influenced the effects of cannabis for two reasons.

Firstly, it is known that men and women use cannabis differently: they have different patterns of use and subjective effects. Secondly, preclinical studies show that the endocannabinoid system differs in men and women, with different cannabinoid receptor densities and complex interactions with hormones.

Although the researchers did not find a clear and consistent pattern where, for example, men would always experience more beneficial effects from cannabis than women, they did observe significant interactions across a number of brain regions and cognitive measures. This suggests that gender is an important factor to consider.

Across many measures, moderate consumption showed the best results. For those brain regions and cognitive tests where an effect was observed, the moderate-drinking group demonstrated larger brain volume and better cognitive performance overall. However, for some measures, such as right amygdala volume, visual memory, and learning, the high-drinking group performed better.

Although a positive association was observed across almost all measures, there was one brain region where higher cannabis use was associated with smaller brain volume. This was the posterior cingulate cortex, which is part of the limbic system and is involved in processes such as memory, learning, and emotion. However, some studies suggest that smaller posterior cingulate cortex volume may actually be associated with better working memory, so the significance of this finding remains unclear.

The UK Biobank, which the scientists used, is a massive dataset providing an excellent sample of older adults and numerous high-quality health indicators important for studying aging, including neuroimaging and cognitive assessments. It also contains information on cannabis use.

Biobank participants were asked to estimate how many times they had used cannabis in their lifetime, choosing from a range of suggested times. Based on the number of times they used cannabis, the study authors divided the participants into groups: no use, moderate use, and heavy use.

The researchers were surprised to find that cannabis users demonstrated improved performance across all cognitive measures where a significant effect was found. This contradicts conventional wisdom, as many studies show that cannabis, at least during use, is associated with cognitive decline.

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The main conclusion: the picture is complex and ambiguous. It's impossible to say that cannabis is either unambiguously good or unambiguously bad. Everything depends on how people use it. What products are used, for what purpose, and at what stage of life—all these questions matter, and scientists are still searching for answers.

But evidence shows that cannabis may have positive effects not only on the size or volume of individual brain regions, but also on their functioning.

Beyond cannabis, researchers at the University of Colorado have become interested in the link between brain health and psilocybin use.

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