Experts Want More Research On Medical Marijuana For Elderly

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More research is needed on the potential benefits of marijuana for older patients, according to a team of medical experts from Holland.

Writing this month in the journal Ageing Research Reviews, investigators at Radboud University Medical Center argue that not enough studies involving marijuana-based treatments, including a class of chemicals called cannabinoids, are focusing on seniors.

“Although trials studying medical cannabinoids included older subjects, there is a lack of evidence of its use specifically in older patients.”

But the need is strong, according to the report. In the Netherlands, one third of patients with a medical marijuana prescription are over 60. Israel’s program distributes marijuana directly to some nursing homes. Statistics from Canada and the U.S. also suggest a rise in cannabis use among the baby boomer demographic.

More importantly, marijuana-based treatments have proven to be effective at managing a variety of symptoms common in aging patients, the authors note, including neuropathic pain and nausea and loss of appetite in patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Marijuana shows promise in treating symptoms of dementia as well.

“It is highly worthwhile to conduct well designed studies on the efficacy of cannabinoids in symptom management in dementia, given the initial positive results on weight loss and agitation in this patient population, and the great lack of other effective and safe strategies in this field.”

However, elderly patients may be more vulnerable to side effects of marijuana treatment, which only large-scale studies can help reveal.

After reviewing the current body of evidence, the researchers found just five studies on marijuana-based therapies that provide results specifically on elderly patients. But the sample sizes were small, and none of the studies involved the use of medical cannabis in its herbal form.

In order for physicians to prescribe these treatments confidently, they explain, more evidence is required.

The team concludes: “Adequately powered trials are needed to assess the efficacy and safety of cannabinoids in older subjects, as the potential symptomatic benefit is especially attractive in this age group.”

Source Leaf Science