Study Links Cannabis-Related Hospital Visits to Higher Dementia Risk

New research finds a 23% to 72% increased likelihood of dementia diagnosis within five years for older adults requiring acute care for cannabis use.

A study of 6 million adults aged 45 and older in Ontario found a significant association between cannabis-related emergency visits or hospitalizations and higher dementia risk within five years.
Patients treated for cannabis-related acute care were 1.23 to 1.72 times more likely to develop dementia than those treated for other reasons or the general population after adjusting for various risk factors.
The rate of first-time acute care visits for cannabis use rose over fivefold between 2008 and 2021, with the sharpest increases among individuals aged 65 and older.
Researchers suggest potential mechanisms include both direct brain structure changes and indirect factors such as high blood pressure, head trauma, and depression linked to cannabis use.
While the study establishes a strong association, it does not prove causation, prompting calls for further research into cannabis use and its long-term cognitive effects.