Arthritis and Chronic Pain
More wide-reaching are the symptoms and side effects of arthritis and chronic pain for seniors. Even before the age of 65, many adults feel the deterioration of the body with common aches and pains. Since CBD and THC are both proving to be highly anti-inflammatory, they can be used to combat the pain of arthritis. Seniors seem to have quickly caught on to the pain- relieving effects of cannabis. In 2019, 65 percent of seniors reported using medical marijuana specifically for chronic pain.
Growing Old with Cannabis
As we learn more about cannabis and its unique benefits, it seems you can safely grow old while using cannabis. In addition, those aging issues that you can’t avoid can be relieved by conscious consumption. Senior citizens and younger generation alike can now have peace in knowing that cannabis can be a benefit to any anti-aging routine.
Parkinson’s
Parkinson’s is another condition that is common among senior citizens. It affects nearly 10 million people worldwide, with 60,000 new cases in the U.S. each year. Currently, there’s no cure for the disorder, but experts attribute the symptoms to changing levels of dopamine and problems with nerve communication. This is where cannabis may be able to help. Overall, cannabinoids are being found to assist and improve neural activity to help alleviate many of Parkinson's symptoms, as shown by the disorder’s non-profit organization publishing the results of these studies. The Michael J. Fox Organization has supported cannabis use as well.
Beyond the growing support, it seems that the specific benefits that cannabis can provide are keeping “smoking seniors” coming back for more. Let’s review the latest research on how marijuana can help common aging conditions.
Cannabis for Aging
Since research is still catching up after years of criminalization, experts don’t have all the facts when it comes to cannabis and aging. From early studies, however, they can conclude that cannabis helps directly address many common older-age issues.
Alzheimer’s Disease
One myth from marijuana’s past is that it has a negative effect on your memory. On the contrary, researchers are now finding that cannabis has a positive effect on Alzheimer’s, a condition that 10% of the senior citizen population suffers from. In 2014, the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease published a breakthrough study reporting that THC had a therapeutic effect against the memory affecting condition. This benefit occurs in part because THC lowers the brain’s levels of beta-amyloids proteins. When beta-amyloids build up in the brain, Alzheimer’s symptoms can appear.
The senior citizen community is becoming more progressive, seemingly day by day. Many are joining social media channels and dating sites, staying active longer, and even changing their views about marijuana. As educational resources become more widely available on the benefits of cannabis, the number of seniors using it increases as well. A report published this year showed that cannabis consumption by adults 65 and over has doubled between 2015 and 2018. It turns out that the plant has a wide range of health benefits that relieve common issues and effects of aging. Here we’ll dive deep into the science and stats behind the increasing acceptance of cannabis use in seniors and how it is being used to combat aging.
Smoking Seniors—The Rise in Use
Currently, 33 states in the U.S. have legalized the medical use of cannabis, with another 11 states allowing recreational use. The increase in availability and destigmatization in popular culture are huge factors in the rise in the use of cannabis by aging adults.
Citing a recent poll showing that 94% of Americans now support the medical use of the plant, experts at Harvard have theorized that the diminishing of the stigma against cannabis is also fueling the habit for seniors. This widespread support is helping to decrease many of the negative myths and stereotypes surrounding cannabis that seniors grew up believing. As for sources to trust, there’s no better organization than AARP for the aging community. The non-profit group encouraged seniors to consider cannabis as an aid when it officially endorsed the plant’s use. In 2019, the AARP Board of Directors approved a policy supporting the use of medical marijuana in the states where it’s been legalized.
by the storystudio
How cannabis can combat aging.
Seniors & Cannabis
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