Marijuana use is associated with lower odds of subjective cognitive decline (SCD), according to a new study, with people who consume cannabis for recreational or medical purposes reporting less confusion and memory loss compared to non-users. The study—which showed that recreational cannabis use is “significantly” linked to lower SCD—is especially notable given that past research has connected subjective decline to the development of dementia later in life.
The study showed that compared to non-users, non-medical cannabis use was significantly associated with 96% decreased odds of SCD. People who reported using marijuana for medical purposes, or for both medical and recreational purposes, also showed “decreased odds of SCD, although not significant.
The study suggested several possible theories for why cannabis use could be tied to lower self-reported cognitive decline, including that people often use marijuana to cope with insomnia and other sleep issues—noting that a recent study found that more frequent sleep disturbances were associated with higher dementia risk in a national U.S. older adult sample.
