{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,17]],"date-time":"2026-10-17T01:44:43Z","timestamp":1792201483097,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":51,"publisher":"Oxford University Press (OUP)","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,4]],"date-time":"2025-11-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1762214400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":5,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,30]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Cannabis is a commonly used psychoactive drug, but its cognitive effects remain unclear, particularly in older adults. This study examined associations between past and present cannabis use and cognitive function among dementia-free older adults.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Cross-sectional and longitudinal data were drawn from the UK Biobank, including adults aged \u226560\u00a0years. Cannabis use patterns were self-reported, and cognitive function was assessed via computerized tests of attention, executive function, processing speed, visual memory and working memory. Multivariable linear regression models adjusted for demographic, health and lifestyle-related covariates.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Cross-sectional analyses included 67 713 participants; longitudinal analyses included 52 002 participants with two cognitive assessments (mean age 67.2\u2009\u00b1\u20094.4\u00a0years; 46.1% male). Lifetime cannabis users (17%) performed better across all cognitive domains: attention (B\u2009=\u20090.071), executive function (B\u2009=\u20090.047), processing speed (B\u2009=\u20090.363), visual (B\u2009=\u20090.062) and working memory (B\u2009=\u20090.181). Current use was associated with better working memory (B\u2009=\u20090.169). Mixed and contradictory results were found for early onset, duration and frequency of use with cognitive outcomes. Longitudinally, past use was associated with less decline in executive function, while longer duration of use predicted steeper decline in processing speed.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Cannabis use is not uniformly harmful to cognition in older adults. Past use was linked to better performance and slower decline in some cognitive domains. However, specific usage patterns, such as longer duration, were associated with poorer outcomes in other domains. These findings highlight the need for further research to clarify underlying mechanisms and guide evidence-based recommendations regarding cannabis use in aging populations.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1093\/ageing\/afaf319","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,18]],"date-time":"2025-10-18T11:42:51Z","timestamp":1760787771000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["History of cannabis use and cognitive function in older adults: findings from the UK biobank"],"prefix":"10.1093","volume":"54","author":[{"given":"Sharon R","family":"Sznitman","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Public Health, University of Haifa , Haifa ,","place":["Israel"]},{"name":"Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern ,","place":["Switzerland"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shiraz","family":"Vered","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Public Health, University of Haifa , Haifa ,","place":["Israel"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1316-4448","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Galit","family":"Weinstein","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Public Health, University of Haifa , Haifa ,","place":["Israel"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"286","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,4]]},"reference":[{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"473","DOI":"10.1111\/add.14031","article-title":"Trends and age, period and cohort effects for marijuana use prevalence in the 1984-2015 US National Alcohol Surveys","volume":"113","author":"Kerr","year":"2018","journal-title":"Addiction"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"32","DOI":"10.1016\/j.alcohol.2022.07.006","article-title":"Past-month binge drinking and cannabis use among middle-aged and older adults in the United States, 2015-2019","volume":"107","author":"Kepner","year":"2023","journal-title":"Alcohol."},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"516","DOI":"10.1111\/add.13670","article-title":"Demographic trends among older cannabis users in the United States, 2006-13","volume":"112","author":"Han","year":"2017","journal-title":"Addiction"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101041","DOI":"10.1016\/j.arr.2020.101041","article-title":"The implications of late-life cannabis use on brain health: a mapping review and implications for future research","volume":"59","author":"Weinstein","year":"2020","journal-title":"Ageing Res Rev"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"420","DOI":"10.1037\/a0029117","article-title":"Residual effects of cannabis use on neurocognitive performance after prolonged abstinence: a meta-analysis","volume":"20","author":"Schreiner","year":"2012","journal-title":"Exp Clin Psychopharmacol"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"585","DOI":"10.1001\/jamapsychiatry.2018.0335","article-title":"Association of Cannabis with cognitive functioning in adolescents and young adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"75","author":"Scott","year":"2018","journal-title":"JAMA Psychiatry"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"471","DOI":"10.1037\/pha0000326","article-title":"Cognitive outcomes associated with long-term, regular, recreational cannabis use in adults: a meta-analysis","volume":"28","author":"Lovell","year":"2020","journal-title":"Exp Clin Psychopharmacol"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"359","DOI":"10.1037\/neu0000615","article-title":"Duration of abstinence from cannabis is positively associated with verbal learning performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"34","author":"Krzyzanowski","year":"2020","journal-title":"Neuropsychology."},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"358","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neubiorev.2019.10.014","article-title":"Neurocognitive consequences of chronic cannabis use: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"108","author":"Figueiredo","year":"2020","journal-title":"Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"384","DOI":"10.1007\/s40429-024-00571-1","article-title":"Cannabis use and cognitive functioning across the lifespan","volume":"11","author":"Meier","year":"2024","journal-title":"Curr Addict Rep"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"443","DOI":"10.1007\/s40429-019-00285-9","article-title":"A systematic review of the neurocognitive effects of cannabis use in older adults","volume":"6","author":"Scott","year":"2019","journal-title":"Curr Addict Rep"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"218","DOI":"10.1093\/aje\/kwr315","article-title":"Is illicit drug use harmful to cognitive functioning in the midadult years?","volume":"175","author":"Dregan","year":"2012","journal-title":"A cohort-based investigation Am J Epidemiol"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"870","DOI":"10.1017\/S1355617723000061","article-title":"The association between cannabis use and subjective memory complaints in older adults in the United States","volume":"29","author":"Mulhauser","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Int Neuropsychol Soc"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"58","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pscychresns.2019.02.001","article-title":"Preliminary results from a pilot study examining brain structure in older adult cannabis users and nonusers","volume":"285","author":"Thayer","year":"2019","journal-title":"Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"740","DOI":"10.1177\/08919887211049130","article-title":"Long-term recreational cannabis use is associated with lower executive function and processing speed in a pilot sample of older adults","volume":"35","author":"Stypulkowski","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"242","DOI":"10.1089\/can.2018.0035","article-title":"Subregional hippocampal thickness abnormalities in older adults with a history of heavy cannabis use","volume":"3","author":"Burggren","year":"2018","journal-title":"Cannabis Cannabinoid Res"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"272","DOI":"10.1111\/dar.13171","article-title":"Medical cannabis and cognitive performance in middle to old adults treated for chronic pain","volume":"40","author":"Sznitman","year":"2021","journal-title":"Drug Alcohol Rev"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/ageing\/afae068","article-title":"The association between cannabis use and neuroimaging measures in older adults: findings from the UK biobank","volume":"53","author":"Vered","year":"2024","journal-title":"Age Ageing"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"782","DOI":"10.1038\/nm.4311","article-title":"A chronic low dose of \u03949-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) restores cognitive function in old mice","volume":"23","author":"Bilkei-Gorzo","year":"2017","journal-title":"Nat Med"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"661","DOI":"10.1038\/nm.4348","article-title":"The cannabis paradox: when age matters","volume":"23","author":"Ozaita","year":"2017","journal-title":"Nat Med"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"572","DOI":"10.1002\/alz.12435","article-title":"Genetic risk, adherence to a healthy lifestyle, and cognitive decline in African Americans and European Americans","volume":"18","author":"Dhana","year":"2022","journal-title":"Alzheimers Dement"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"718","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jalz.2015.05.016","article-title":"Summary of the evidence on modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia: a population-based perspective","volume":"11","author":"Baumgart","year":"2015","journal-title":"Alzheimers Dement"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e1001779","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pmed.1001779","article-title":"UK biobank: an open access resource for identifying the causes of a wide range of complex diseases of middle and old age","volume":"12","author":"Sudlow","year":"2015","journal-title":"PLoS Med"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref24","author":"Biobank U"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1383","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(09)61037-0","article-title":"Adverse health effects of non-medical cannabis use","volume":"374","author":"Hall","year":"2009","journal-title":"The Lancet"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"286","DOI":"10.1016\/S2215-0366(14)70307-4","article-title":"Young adult sequelae of adolescent cannabis use: an integrative analysis","volume":"1","author":"Silins","year":"2014","journal-title":"Lancet Psychiatry"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0231627","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0231627","article-title":"Reliability and validity of the UK biobank cognitive tests","volume":"15","author":"Fawns-Ritchie","year":"2020","journal-title":"PloS One"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"113","DOI":"10.1007\/s40263-024-01148-2","article-title":"The complex relationship between cannabis use and mental health: considering the influence of cannabis use patterns and individual factors","volume":"39","author":"Sagar","year":"2025","journal-title":"CNS Drugs"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"827","DOI":"10.1089\/can.2022.0097","article-title":"Increased white matter coherence following three and six months of medical cannabis treatment","volume":"7","author":"Dahlgren","year":"2022","journal-title":"Cannabis Cannabinoid Res"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"804890","DOI":"10.3389\/fnagi.2022.804890","article-title":"Cannabis use and resting state functional connectivity in the aging brain","volume":"14","author":"Watson","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front Aging Neurosci"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"661","DOI":"10.1038\/nm.4348","article-title":"The cannabis paradox: when age matters","volume":"23","author":"Ozaita","year":"2017","journal-title":"Nat Med"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"782","DOI":"10.1038\/nm.4311","article-title":"A chronic low dose of \u0394(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) restores cognitive function in old mice","volume":"23","author":"Bilkei-Gorzo","year":"2017","journal-title":"Nat Med"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"983","DOI":"10.3389\/fphar.2017.00983","article-title":"The grass might Be greener: medical marijuana patients exhibit altered brain activity and improved executive function after 3 months of treatment","volume":"8","author":"Gruber","year":"2017","journal-title":"Front Pharmacol"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"231","DOI":"10.1037\/a0035724","article-title":"Mental work demands, retirement, and longitudinal trajectories of cognitive functioning","volume":"19","author":"Fisher","year":"2014","journal-title":"J Occup Health Psychol"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1803","DOI":"10.1212\/01.wnl.0000295506.58497.7e","article-title":"Associations of job demands and intelligence with cognitive performance among men in late life","volume":"70","author":"Potter","year":"2008","journal-title":"Neurology."},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"423","DOI":"10.1037\/adb0000268","article-title":"Cognitive functioning of adolescent and young adult cannabis users in the Philadelphia neurodevelopmental cohort","volume":"31","author":"Scott","year":"2017","journal-title":"Psychology of addictive behaviors : journal of the Society of Psychologists in Addictive Behaviors"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"557","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biopsych.2015.12.002","article-title":"Acute and chronic effects of cannabinoids on human cognition-a systematic review","volume":"79","author":"Broyd","year":"2016","journal-title":"Biol Psychiatry"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"114","DOI":"10.2174\/1874473710801020114","article-title":"Long-term consequences of adolescent cannabis exposure on the development of cognition, brain structure and function: an overview of animal and human research","volume":"1","author":"Jager","year":"2008","journal-title":"Curr Drug Abuse Rev"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"499","DOI":"10.1007\/BF01441571","article-title":"The short-term consequences of early onset cannabis use","volume":"24","author":"Fergusson","year":"1996","journal-title":"J Abnorm Child Psychol"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"19","DOI":"10.1016\/j.copsyc.2020.07.001","article-title":"Cannabis use and psychosocial functioning: evidence from prospective longitudinal studies","volume":"38","author":"Meier","year":"2021","journal-title":"Curr Opin Psychol"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"559","DOI":"10.1111\/add.14776","article-title":"Heavy cannabis use, dependence and the brain: a clinical perspective","volume":"115","author":"Kroon","year":"2020","journal-title":"Addiction"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"E342","DOI":"10.9778\/cmajo.20200187","article-title":"Attitudes toward medical cannabis among family physicians practising in Ontario, Canada: a qualitative research study","volume":"9","author":"Ng","year":"2021","journal-title":"CMAJ Open"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"10","DOI":"10.1017\/S0714980824000357","article-title":"Understanding older adults' experiences with cannabis for medicinal purposes: a mixed methods study","volume":"44","author":"Dahlke","year":"2025","journal-title":"Can J Aging"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"521","DOI":"10.1007\/s40266-024-01123-y","article-title":"Prescribed medical cannabis use among older individuals: patient characteristics and improvements in well-being: findings from T21","volume":"41","author":"Lynskey","year":"2024","journal-title":"Drugs Aging"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"81","DOI":"10.26828\/cannabis\/2024\/000239","article-title":"Medical cannabis for patients over age 50: a multi-site, prospective study of patterns of use and health outcomes","volume":"8","author":"Pearson","year":"2025","journal-title":"Cannabis."},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref46","author":"Cannabis-based products for medicinal use [database on the Internet]","year":"2025"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref47","author":"3 years since the UK legalised medical cannabis, and only 3 NHS prescriptions [database on the Internet]","year":"2021"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"20503245231167373","DOI":"10.1177\/20503245231167373","article-title":"Characteristics of and 3-month health outcomes for people seeking treatment with prescribed cannabis: real-world evidence from project Twenty21","volume":"9","author":"Lynskey","year":"2023","journal-title":"Drug Science, Policy and Law"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"643","DOI":"10.1016\/S2215-0366(17)30075-5","article-title":"Can we make cannabis safer?","volume":"4","author":"Englund","year":"2017","journal-title":"Lancet Psychiatry"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"93","DOI":"10.1016\/S0091-3057(96)00456-X","article-title":"Comparative effects of alcohol and marijuana on mood, memory, and performance","volume":"58","author":"Heishman","year":"1997","journal-title":"Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior"},{"key":"2025110500405930500_ref51","volume-title":"The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research","author":"National Academies of Sciences E, and Medicine","year":"2017"}],"container-title":["Age and Ageing"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/ageing\/article-pdf\/54\/11\/afaf319\/65172965\/afaf319.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/ageing\/article-pdf\/54\/11\/afaf319\/65172965\/afaf319.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,5]],"date-time":"2025-11-05T05:41:04Z","timestamp":1762321264000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/ageing\/article\/doi\/10.1093\/ageing\/afaf319\/8313927"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,30]]},"references-count":51,"journal-issue":{"issue":"11","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,30]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/ageing\/afaf319","relation":{},"ISSN":["0002-0729","1468-2834"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0002-0729","type":"print"},{"value":"1468-2834","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published-other":{"date-parts":[[2025,11]]},"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,30]]},"article-number":"afaf319"}}