CBD has shown “promising” results to reduce inflammation and cognitive decline associated with aging, according to a recent government-funded study.
Researchers at University of Lethbridge and McGill University investigated the effects of non-intoxicating cannabidiol on aging mice, testing to see how long-term administration of CBD would impact memory, motor control functions and coordination that are linked to key parts of the brain.
The study, funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and published in the journal Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, found that “CBD treatment has a positive impact on object memory processes mediated by the [perirhinal cortex] and spatial memory functions centered on the [hippocampus].”
“Brain pathology results showed that the aged mice treated with CBD showed reduced inflammation” in certain regions of the brain, including the hippocampus, which plays a key role in memory and learning, the authors wrote. Past studies have found that inflammation of those regions is linked to age-related dementia and other cognitive conditions.
“CBD reduces inflammatory response in the brain and improves cognitive decline associated with aging.”
For the study, the scientists used 19 mice—10 of which received cannabidiol and nine that were given a placebo daily over the course of seven months. Throughout the experiment, the mice were subjected to a series of behavioral tests, including a “novel object recognition” task to assess visual memory, a balance beam task to gauge motor control and “fear conditioning”
“The results indicated that aged mice treated with CBD showed improved performance on the [novel object recognition] and [spacial learning], suggesting that CBD treatment has a positive impact on object memory processes mediated by the [perirhinal cortex] and spatial memory functions,” the study says.
“The findings of this study show that CBD targets inflammatory responses in the brain and can improve cognitive decline associated with aging,” the authors said, adding that it’s “possible that the effects of CBD treatment can be enhanced if an extract with THC and terpenoids is used.”
“Oral CBD treatments can improve memory processes that are impaired due to aging.”
Relatedly, another recent study that received federal funding found that cannabis users have “superior performance across multiple cognitive domains,” with the effects of cannabis on cognition “presented concurrently across a range of brain systems.”
Another study published last year found that marijuana use is associated with lower odds of subjective cognitive decline (SCD), with people who consume cannabis for recreational or medical purposes reporting less confusion and memory loss compared to non-users.
Researchers in 2023 examined marijuana’s neurocognitive effects and found that “prescribed medical cannabis may have minimal acute impact on cognitive function among patients with chronic health conditions.”
While the long-term effects of cannabis use are far from settled science, findings from a number of recent studies suggest some fears have been overblown.
A report published in April that drew on dispensary data, for instance, found that cancer patients reported being able to think more clearly when using medical marijuana. They also said it helped manage pain.
A separate study of teens and young adults at risk of developing psychotic disorders found that regular marijuana use over a two-year period did not trigger early onset of psychosis symptoms—contrary to the claims of prohibitionists who argue that cannabis causes mental illness. In fact, it was associated with modest improvements in cognitive functioning and reduced use of other medications.
Yet another study published by the American Medical Association (AMA) last year that looked at data from more than 63 million health insurance beneficiaries determined that there’s “no statistically significant increase” in psychosis-related diagnoses in states that have legalized marijuana compared to those that continue to criminalize cannabis.
Studies from 2018, meanwhile, found that marijuana may actually increase working memory and that cannabis use doesn’t actually change the structure of the brain.
