Cannabis Use and Age-Related Changes in Cognitive Function From Early Adulthood to Late Midlife in 5162 Danish Men

Overview

Journal Brain Behav

Specialty Psychology

Date 2024 Nov 7

PMID 39508467

Authors

Kirstine Maarup Hoeg

Rasmus Ljungbeck Frodegaard

Marie Gronkjaer

Merete Osler

Erik Lykke Mortensen

Trine Flensborg-Madsen

Gunhild Tidemann Okholm

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

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 Børge Prien's Prøve 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.

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