ArticleJournal of studies on alcohol and drugs2026
Lifetime Cannabis Use Is Associated With Brain Volume and Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged and Older Adults.
Article in Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
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Abstract
objectiveCannabis use has increased among older adults, yet the neurocognitive effects in this demographic remain unclear. Prior work has suggested that cannabis may increase brain volume in areas rich in cannabinoid (CB1) receptors, although negative effects are often reported in adolescents. This study sought to clarify the relationship between cannabis use and brain health among middle-aged and older adults.
methodUsing data from the UK Biobank, which includes health information from more than 500,000 adults, associations between cannabis use, regional brain volume, and cognition in participants ages 40-69 years (mean age = 54.5) were evaluated.
resultsLifetime cannabis use was positively associated with regional brain volume in CB1-rich regions, including the caudate, putamen, hippocampus, and amygdala. Greater lifetime use was also linked to better performance in learning, processing speed, and short-term memory. Individuals reporting use limited to adolescence also showed larger regional volumes and better cognitive performance than nonusers. Sex differences in cannabis effects on brain volume and cognition were also observed.
conclusionsResults highlight that cannabis may influence brain health differently across the life span, potentially offering protective effects in older age while posing risks earlier in development. Protective effects may result from endocannabinoid-mediated modulation of inflammation, immune function, and neurodegeneration. Observed sex differences likely reflect variation in the endocannabinoid system and underscore the importance of considering sex as a biological variable in studies of cannabis and brain health.
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