Among cannabis users, neither age of initiation of cannabis use nor frequent use was significantly associated with a greater age-related cognitive decline.
Cannabis Use and Age-Related Changes in Cognitive Function From Early Adulthood to Late Midlife in 5162 Danish Men
Kirstine Maarup HĂžeg, Rasmus Ljungbeck Frodegaard, Marie GrĂžnkjĂŠr, Merete Osler, Erik Lykke Mortensen, Trine Flensborg-Madsen, Gunhild Tidemann Okholm
First published: 07 November 2024
https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.70136
Funding: This work was supported by a number of grants. The DanACo cohort was established by pooling the two follow-up studies, the LiKO-15 and DiaKO-19 studies. The establishment of the LiKO-15 study was part of the Phenotypes in Alcohol Use Disorders project, which was supported by Innovation Fund Denmark, Health and Clinical Research (Grant Number 603-00520B) and was further supported by the Center for Healthy Aging, University of Copenhagen, and a PhD scholarship grant to MG from the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. The establishment of the DiaKO-19 cohort was supported by grants from Independent Research Fund Denmark (Grant Number: 8020-00094B), Svend Andersen foundation, and Doctor Sofus Carl Emil Friis and wife Olga Doris Friis's foundation. Further support for ongoing research using the LiKO-15 and DiaKO-19 cohorts has been granted by the Lundbeck foundation (Grant Number: R380-2021-1433), Helsefonden (Grant Number: 22-B-0196), and by the internal research funds of Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg hospitals. The funding bodies had no role in the design of the studies, nor in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data and writing of the manuscript.
ABSTRACT
Introduction
Cannabis is by far the most widely used and abused drug listed on the Drug Enforcement Administration's Schedule I, which includes drugs with a high potential for abuse. There is evidence of short-term negative effects of cannabis use on cognition, but only a limited number of studies have explored the association between cannabis use and age-related cognitive decline. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between cannabis use and age-related cognitive decline from early adulthood to late midlife.
Methods
The study population consisted of 5162 men who had participated in Danish follow-up studies on cognitive aging. These studies included scores on the military intelligence test BĂžrge Prien's PrĂžve from both the conscription assessment (mean age = 20 years; p1 and p99: 18 and 26 years) and from the follow-up (mean age = 64 years; p1 and p99: 55 and 72 years) as well as extensive data on lifestyle and health from the follow-up questionnaires. The association between cannabis use and age-related cognitive decline was investigated in linear regression models.
Results
Men with a history of cannabis use had less cognitive decline from early adulthood to late midlife compared to men without a history of cannabis use. Among cannabis users, neither age of initiation of cannabis use nor frequent use was significantly associated with a greater age-related cognitive decline.
Discussion and Conclusions
In a sample of more than 5000 men followed for a mean of 44 years, we found no significant harmful effects of cannabis use on age-related cognitive decline.
Comments