scholarly journals Medical Cannabis Use Among Older Adults in Canada: Self-Reported Data on Types and Amount Used, and Perceived Effects

Drugs & Aging ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shankar Tumati ◽  
Krista L. Lanctôt ◽  
RuoDing Wang ◽  
Abby Li ◽  
Andrew Davis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Medical Cannabis ◽  
Perceived Effects ◽  
Reported Data

scholarly journals Disparity between Perceptual Fall Risk and Physiological Fall Risk in Older Cannabis Users: A Pilot Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 109
Author(s):  
Craig D. Workman ◽  
Jacob J. Sosnoff ◽  
Thorsten Rudroff
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Strong Correlations ◽  
Medical Cannabis ◽  
Future Studies

Aging is associated with cognitive decline and increased fall risk. Cognitive impairment is associated with cannabis use, which is increasing among older adults. Perceptual and physiological fall risk are discordant in some older adults, but whether cannabis use influences this association is unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate possible disparities between perceptual and physiological fall risk in older cannabis users. Eight older medical cannabis users and eight sex- and age-matched non-users provided data on perceptual and physiological fall risk. Group differences were assessed, and perceptual fall risk was correlated with physiological fall risk. Perceptual risk and most of the physiological fall risk variables were equivalent between the groups. However, cannabis users performed significantly worse on unipedal stance than non-users. In addition, perceptual fall risk had weak correlations with physiological fall risk in the users (Spearman’s rho = 0.17–0.41) and moderate-strong correlations in non-users (rho = −0.18–0.67). Cannabis users might have a discrepancy between perceptual and physiological fall risk. Because both concepts play a role in quality of life, identifying strategies to improve them may have significant benefits. Future studies investigating additional perceptual (e.g., cognition, fear of falling, depression, anxiety), physiological (e.g., more challenging static and dynamic balance conditions), and general fall risk are warranted.

scholarly journals Mental Health and Cognition in Older Cannabis Users: a Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-244
Author(s):  
Blanca E. Vacaflor ◽  
Olivier Beauchet ◽  
G. Eric Jarvis ◽  
Alessandra Schiavetto ◽  
Soham Rej
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Cognitive Effects ◽  
Medical Cannabis ◽  
Short Term ◽  
The Impact

Background The impact of cannabis use on mental health and cognition in older adults remains unclear. With the recent legalization of cannabis in Canada, physicians will need up-to-date infor­mation about the mental and cognitive effects of cannabis use in this specific population. Method A narrative review was conducted to summarize the literature on mental health and cognitive effects of cannabis use in older adults using Medline (OvidSP). Results A total of 16 studies were identified, including nine cross-sectional studies on mental health comorbidities reported by older cannabis users. The self-reported prevalence of mental and substance use disorders is approximately two to three times higher in older adults who report past-year cannabis use, compared to older adults who report using more than one year ago or never using. The remaining seven clinical trials found that short-term, low-dose medical cannabis was generally well-tolerated in older adults without prior serious mental illness. However, mental/cognitive adverse effects were not systematically assessed. Conclusion Although preliminary findings suggests that low-dose, short-term medical cannabis does not carry significant risk of serious mental health and cognitive adverse effects in older adults without prior psychiatric history, epidemiological studies find a correlation between past-year cannabis use and poor mental health outcomes in community-dwelling older adults. These findings may indicate that longer term cannabis use in this population is detrimental to their mental health, al­though a direct causal link has not been established. Larger, longitudinal studies on the safety of medical cannabis in older adults are needed.

scholarly journals POLICY SERIES: REEFER MADNESS, SADNESS, OR GLADNESS? THE CANNABIS AND OLDER PERSONS STUDY

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S203-S203
Author(s):  
Brian P Kaskie ◽  
Julie Bobitt
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Program Implementation ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Symptom Relief ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Medical Cannabis ◽  
Dementia Caregivers ◽  
Provider Perspectives ◽  
Cannabis Policy

Abstract In 2016, we began our examination of the intersection between cannabis and older persons by convening focus groups with 163 older adults from senior centers and dispensaries in nine states with varying levels of cannabis legalization. Since then, we have secured competitive research grants and contracts to examine cannabis use among older persons in California, Colorado, Illinois and Iowa. Our work is guided by the primary hypothesis that cannabis use among older persons is shaped by an individual’s calculations concerning risk (e.g., developing a cannabis use disorder, lawbreaking) and reward (e.g., relaxation, symptom relief), and individuals living in a state with a legal cannabis program may perceive less risk and also may be receiving more information about the benefits of cannabis. We also hypothesize that older adults’ access to and use of cannabis is shaped by where they live, particularly defined by local cannabis program implementation efforts and relevant contextual conditions. In this symposium, we will examine our latest work concerning (a) life-span attitudes toward cannabis, (b) clinical perspectives on counseling and certifying older persons for medical cannabis, (c) provider perspectives on state cannabis policy and program implementation, (d) cannabis use among a sample of dementia caregivers and (e) outcomes experienced by older persons who use cannabis for medical or recreational purposes. Our discussion focuses on implication for policy development and program implementation.

scholarly journals Negative Clusters Associated With Cannabis Use: Tangled Up in Blues

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 511-511
Author(s):  
Hyojung Kang
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Positive Outcomes ◽  
Negative Outcomes ◽  
Medical Cannabis ◽  
Negative Health Outcomes ◽  
Bell Shaped Curve

Abstract Previous studies concerning older adults have focused on whether cannabis use leads to positive or negative outcomes. In this study, we identified clusters of negative health outcomes associated with medical cannabis use. In total, we examined eight health outcomes: pain, sleep, falls, memory, digestive issues, mental health conditions, exercise, and general productivity reported by 2,968 persons over 60 who participated in the Illinois Medical Cannabis Program. We used association analysis to simultaneously identify groups of negative outcomes reported by participants. The distribution of non-positive outcomes shows a bell-shaped curve: 1.4% of participants responded that cannabis use improved all outcomes, while 4.1% of participants answered that cannabis use did not. When looking at negative outcomes, 86% of participants reported none worsened, and 11% reported one of the outcomes was affected. Only a small fraction of the participants (3%) claimed more than one negative outcomes after cannabis use.

scholarly journals Effects of medical and non-medical cannabis use in older adults: protocol for a scoping review

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. e034301
Author(s):  
Dianna Wolfe ◽  
Kimberly Corace ◽  
Danielle Rice ◽  
Andra Smith ◽  
Salmaan Kanji ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Randomised Trials ◽  
Medical Cannabis ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Scoping Reviews ◽  
Harmful Effects

IntroductionWith its legalisation and regulation in Canada in 2018, the proportion of Canadians reporting cannabis use in 2019 increased substantially over the previous year, with half of new users being aged 45+ years. While use in older adults has been low historically, as those born in the 1950s and 1960s continue to age, this demographic will progressively have more liberal attitudes, prior cannabis exposure and higher use rates. However, older adults experience slower metabolism, increased likelihood of polypharmacy, cognitive decline and chronic physical/mental health problems. There is a need to enhance knowledge of the effects of cannabis use in older adults. The following question will be addressed using a scoping review approach: what evidence exists regarding beneficial and harmful effects of medical and non-medical cannabis use in adults >50 years of age? Given that beneficial and harmful effects of cannabis may be mediated by patient-level (eg, age, sex and race) and cannabis-related factors (eg, natural vs synthetic, consumption method), subgroup effects related to these and additional factors will be explored.Methods and analysisMethods for scoping reviews outlined by Arksey & O’Malley and the Joanna Briggs Institute will be used. A librarian designed a systematic search of the literature from database inception to June 2019. Using the OVID platform, Ovid MEDLINE will be searched, including Epub Ahead of Print and In-Process and Other Non-Indexed Citations, Embase Classic+Embase, and PsycINFO for reviews, randomised trials, non-randomised trials and observational studies of cannabis use. The Cochrane Library on Wiley will also be searched. Eligibility criteria will be older adult participants, currently using cannabis (medical or non-medical), with studies required to report a cannabis-related health outcome to be eligible. Two reviewers will screen citations and full texts, with support from artificial intelligence. Two reviewers will chart data. Tables/graphics will be used to map evidence and identify evidence gaps.Ethics and disseminationThis research will enhance awareness of existing evidence addressing the health effects of medical and non-medical cannabis use in older adults. Findings will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication, conference presentations and a stakeholder meeting.Trial registration numberDOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/5JTAQ.

scholarly journals MEDICAL CANNABIS USE: EXPLORING THE PERCEPTIONS AND EXPERIENCES OF OLDER ADULTS WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S258-S258
Author(s):  
Lydia K Manning ◽  
Lauren M Bouchard
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Prescription Drugs ◽  
Chronic Conditions ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Medical Cannabis ◽  
Older Adult Population

Abstract The past decade has witnessed an increased interest in the therapeutic properties of cannabis, and a growing body of research illustrates the varied uses of cannabis-based medicines for diverse symptoms, syndromes, disorder and both acute and chronic conditions, many of which are associated with advanced age (Lucas et. al, 2016). While the use of medical cannabis is on the rise in the older adult population (Kaskie et. al, 2017), more research is needed to advance the discourse on medical cannabis. With this study, we investigate older adult’s perceptions and experiences of medical cannabis use to treat and/or manage chronic conditions, specifically as a substitute for prescription drugs. Our findings suggest that older adults are open to medical cannabis as an alternative to pharmaceutical. Additionally, narratives revealed that users are hopeful that medical cannabis will provide relief with regard to the management of symptoms and relief of pain. Participants discussed their awareness and ability to manage issues related to stigma both from their primary care providers as well as family and friends. Furthermore, older adults described the frustrations with a lack of education, awareness, and support with dosing. Findings are presented as an interpretation of the participants’ perceptions of their medical cannabis use. Implications for putting medical cannabis use into everyday practice as well as policy implications are considered.

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