When we think about cannabis, a lot of people picture it helping with stress, sleep, or even certain medical problems. But now, doctors and scientists are learning that there might be another side to the story, especially when it comes to how cannabis could affect the brain as we get older. A new study has shown that using cannabis – especially in amounts that are serious enough to cause a trip to the emergency room or hospital – might increase the risk of getting dementia later on.
Dementia is a disease that affects memory, thinking, and even how a person acts. It’s not just about forgetting where you left your keys; it’s a serious condition that can change someone’s whole life. In this big study from Canada, researchers looked at over 6 million people aged 45 and older who didn’t have dementia at the start. They found that people who had an emergency or hospital visit related to cannabis were much more likely to be diagnosed with dementia within five years compared to others.
In fact, about 5 out of 100 cannabis users ended up with a dementia diagnosis within five years. That’s higher than the 3.6 out of 100 people who went to the hospital for other reasons, and much higher than the 1.3 out of 100 people in the general population. Even when researchers adjusted the numbers to account for things like age, gender, and other health problems, the increased risk stayed. That means this link is something to pay attention to.
It’s important to know that the people in this study had serious cannabis problems – enough to go to the ER. This wasn’t about people who use cannabis once in a while. Most of the cannabis users in the study were around 55 years old, and about 60% were men. Their reasons for needing medical care included mental health issues tied to cannabis, poisoning from cannabis, or cannabis addiction.
Researchers also noticed that emergency visits for cannabis skyrocketed over the years. For people aged 65 and older, cannabis-related hospital visits increased nearly 27 times between 2008 and 2021. That’s a huge jump, and it shows that more older adults are using cannabis, sometimes with serious effects.
Now, this study doesn’t prove that cannabis causes dementia. Scientists are very careful to say that they found a link, but they can’t yet say cannabis use definitely leads to dementia. There could be other things going on, like genetics, lifestyle, or other health problems, that also raise the risk. Plus, the study mostly looked at people who were using so much cannabis that it caused a medical emergency, not casual users.
Still, the results are a warning flag. They tell us that heavy cannabis use might be another thing – like high blood pressure, diabetes, poor diet, and lack of exercise – that can hurt brain health as we get older. And it’s not just about memory. Dementia can change a person’s emotions, their ability to communicate, and even their ability to care for themselves.
The study also found something interesting when they compared cannabis users to alcohol users. People who were hospitalized for alcohol problems actually had an even higher risk of dementia than cannabis users. So while cannabis wasn’t the worst thing compared to alcohol, it still showed a clear risk compared to people who didn’t use it at all.
There’s still a lot we don’t know. For example, what about people who use cannabis but never end up in the hospital? Could moderate use still be risky? Does it depend on how often you use it, or how young you start? And what about other things like smoking tobacco or having depression – do they mix with cannabis to make the risk even worse?
For now, the takeaway is simple: if you or someone you love uses cannabis, especially heavily, it’s important to be aware of these risks. Talk to your doctor about it, especially if you’re noticing any changes in your memory or thinking. Keeping the brain healthy involves a lot of things – eating right, exercising, managing stress – and now it looks like keeping cannabis use under control might be part of that picture too.
Scientists are continuing to study how cannabis affects the brain, and we’ll learn more in the coming years. But until then, it’s smart to be cautious. Just like we learned that smoking is bad for the lungs and too much alcohol can damage the liver, we’re starting to understand that heavy cannabis use might not be as harmless for the brain as some people once thought.
Taking care of your brain means thinking carefully about the choices you make now. Whether it’s staying active, eating vegetables, staying socially connected, or avoiding risky habits like heavy cannabis use, the little things we do every day add up to a big difference later on. Your future brain will thank you for it.
If you have questions or worries about cannabis, dementia, or your memory, don’t wait. Talk to your doctor. Knowledge is power, and taking action early can make all the difference.