Older Patients Using Medical Cannabis Experience Significant Health and Well-Being Improvements

Recent research shows significant health and well-being improvements for older adults using medical cannabis, including reduced pain and enhanced quality of life, mood, and sleep. Despite legal status since 2018, access to cannabis-based medicinal products in the UK is limited, with older patients often receiving CBD-dominant oils and experiencing significant therapeutic benefits.

Recent research on the impact of medical cannabis on older adults shows that cannabis-based products can offer numerous therapeutic benefits for this demographic, including improved health, well-being, sleep, and mood.

The study’s authors also noted a “significant reduction in pain severity and its impact on daily life among older patients reporting chronic pain as their primary complaint.”

Published this week in the journal Drugs and Aging, the research aims to fill the gap in high-quality studies concerning cannabis and older adults and to highlight the common practice of excluding individuals over the age of 65 from clinical trials, even as more older patients turn to medical cannabis to alleviate their ailments.

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Key Study Findings

A five-person research team from Drug Science and the Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College London analyzed data from T21, a large observational study started in 2020, which involves individuals seeking cannabis prescriptions in the United Kingdom.

Key Points:

• Health and Well-Being: A consistent improvement in overall health and well-being was observed after three months of treatment.
• Pain Reduction: A significant reduction in pain severity and its impact on daily life was reported.
• Quality of Life: Patients experienced improvements in quality of life, mood, and sleep.

The study emphasizes the need for real-world evidence on the safety and efficacy of cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMP) in older adults, given their frequent exclusion from clinical trials.

Access to Medical Cannabis

Although CBMPs have been legal in the UK since 2018, access through the National Health Service remains limited. Most prescriptions are obtained privately, with over 200 unauthorized CBMP products available on the market. The study indicates that older patients are more likely to receive CBD-dominant oils and less likely to receive THC-dominant flowers.

Comparative Analysis

Older adults, particularly those over 65, showed consistent improvement in various health measures, although the extent of mood and quality of life improvement was somewhat less compared to younger individuals. Despite these differences, the benefits remain significant.

Main Differences Between Younger and Older Patients:

• A higher percentage of older patients were women.
• Older patients more frequently reported chronic pain as their primary complaint.
• Older patients were more likely to be on multiple prescription medications.
• Older patients were less likely to have used cannabis previously and less likely to report daily use before starting treatment.

Broader Context

In the United States, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently allocated $8.4 million for clinical trials on psychedelic-assisted therapy for treating chronic pain in older adults. These studies include classic psychedelics but exclude cannabis and ketamine. Earlier government-funded research showed historic highs in cannabis and psychedelic use among adults in the US, while cannabis use among teenagers remains stable.

This comprehensive study highlights the potential of medical cannabis in improving the quality of life for older adults, calling for more inclusive research and better access to CBMP.

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(Featured image by RDNE Stock project via Pexels)

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