A recent study published in the journal Current Alzheimer Research has unveiled a surprising link between recreational cannabis use and a significantly lower risk of cognitive decline and dementia-related diseases. The study, which involved 4,744 American adults over the age of 45, utilized self-reporting methods to assess cognitive decline and found that individuals who used cannabis recreationally had a 96% reduced chance of experiencing ‘subjective cognitive decline’.

Researchers examined various forms of cannabis consumption, including smoking, vaping, dabbing, and ingestion, as well as the frequency of use, marking a novel approach in the field of cannabis research. Professor Wong, one of the scientists involved in the study, emphasized the comprehensive nature of the research, stating that such a holistic analysis had not been conducted previously.

‘The main takeaway is that cannabis might be protective for our cognition,’ Wong noted. However, the study does not definitively establish a causal relationship between non-medical cannabis use and improved cognitive function. It remains unclear whether individuals with better cognition are more inclined to use cannabis or if cannabis itself enhances cognitive abilities.

What sets this study apart is its focus on subjective assessments of cognitive decline by the participants. This approach addresses common confounding factors in diagnosing cognitive disorders like dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, as well as non-neurodegenerative conditions such as depression, anxiety, declining physical health, and certain personality traits.