A new study suggests that cannabis use by older adults slows the aging of their brains and may even improve cognitive function.
An international research team analyzed extensive health data on over 25,000 adults in the UK, looking at the relationship between cannabis use, aging, and cognitive function. They found that cannabis users had brain characteristics “typically associated with younger brains “ and “enhanced cognitive abilities.”
“Cannabis users exhibited superior performance across multiple cognitive domains, and interestingly, the effects of cannabis and cognition are presented concurrently across a range of brain systems,” the authors said.
“These findings suggest that cannabis use may be associated with a deceleration of neural aging processes and the preservation of cognitive function in older adults.”
It’s important to note that the study is a preprint, published in Research Square, which means the findings have not yet been peer-reviewed by a medical journal and may undergo changes.