Cannabis-Linked Hospital Visits Tied to Higher Dementia Risk, Study Finds
Uniteed States: Recent research shows middle-aged people, together with senior citizens ending up in medical facilities because of marijuana use, face a greater danger of dementia development in the upcoming five years.
Key Findings from JAMA Neurology Study
A 72% elevated risk of dementia diagnosis exists for those admitted to an emergency room or hospitalized because of cannabis use when compared to other members of the population, according to research in JAMA Neurology published April 14, as reported by HealthDay.
Research indicates that people requiring medical hospitalization because of cannabis face a 23% greater chance of developing dementia during five years compared to other hospital-treated patients.
Caution Urged, But More Research Needed
“Long-term and heavy cannabis use has been associated with memory problems in midlife along with changes in brain structure associated with dementia,” said lead investigator Dr. Daniel Myran, research chair in social accountability at the University of Ottawa in Canada.
“We set out to estimate the risk of being diagnosed with dementia in a group of people whose cannabis use resulted in a visit to the emergency room or required a hospitalization for treatment,” he added in a news release.
"Risk of Dementia in Individuals With Emergency Department Visits or Hospitalizations Due to Cannabis"
— Marc Landers (@marclanders) April 15, 2025
Causality vs. Correlation: The study shows an association between cannabis-related acute care and dementia but cannot establish causation. Unmeasured factors (e.g., lifestyle,… pic.twitter.com/Mn8evE7iwE
Science followed 6 million Ontario residents aged 45 and over who entered the study without a dementia diagnosis.
Investigators documented that over 16,000 patients needed hospital treatment because of their marijuana consumption during the period spanning from 2008 to 2021.
A Steady Climb in Cannabis-Related Hospital Visits
The number of hospital admissions resulting from new marijuana use grew five times higher throughout the research period from 2008 to 2021 reaching 38 hospital admissions per 100,000 residents annually.
The research indicates that 5% of individuals admitted to the hospital for marijuana usage later developed dementia within five years of admission, and 19% showed signs of dementia after ten years.
Among all hospital patients the development of dementia was lower at 4% within five years and 15% within a decade.
Analysis of dementia stats from the general population reveals that dementia was diagnosed in approximately 1% of people during initial five years and in about 6% of people during the subsequent ten years.
A hospital stay for marijuana use produces a dementia risk that is slightly lower than dementia risk from hospital treatment for alcohol problems according to research findings.
Research suggests two causes that link cannabis consumption to dementia risk.
Why the Link? Brain Changes & Risky Behaviors
“Regular cannabis use might directly increase the risk of dementia through changes in brain structure,” senior researcher Colleen Webber, a scientist at the Bruyère Health Research Institute in Ottawa, said in a news release.
“It’s also possible that regular cannabis use increases the risk of other established risk factors for dementia, including high blood pressure, head trauma and other injuries, and a higher risk for depression and social isolation,” she added.
The study researchers acknowledge limitations which prevent determinations about the direct connections between marijuana use and dementia development, as reported by HealthDay.
“While we collectively need more research to better understand potential risks of regular cannabis use on cognition and dementia, we hope these findings can inform discussion between patients and healthcare providers,” Myran said.
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