Is Medical Marijuana The Key To A Longer Life? Cannabis & Reverse Aging

Anecdotal and scientific evidence highlighting cannabis medical and therapeutic benefits is plentiful, boosting the plant’s reputation as a wonder herb. Some even consider the marijuana plant the closest we may ever get to a fountain of youth. But is that true? Can cannabis really help you live longer or reverse the effects of aging? Willie Nelson would probably say yes, but let’s look at the science.

What Happens As You Age?

As we age, the physical and mental components we rely on start breaking down. Cell regeneration slows, muscles and bones weaken, mental sharpness drops, and the immune system becomes less effective. The longer you live, the more severe these changes become, and the more they impact your quality of life.

According to a 2023 study aging increases the risk of various diseases, like osteoarthritis, diabetes, and dementia. These diseases impair mobility, cognitive function, and overall well-being. Hearing and vision also typically decline as you age, limiting your ability to socialize and interact with the world around you.

How Aging Affects the ECS and How Cannabis Might Support It

Your endocannabinoid system (ECS) controls several critical bodily functions, including learning, memory, sleep, temperature regulation, pain response, immune function, digestion, and more. A complex network of receptors and naturally occurring compounds called endocannabinoids make up the system. These endocannabinoids are quite similar to the cannabinoids found in cannabis.

Your ECS is active throughout life, but starts to flag as you age. Fortunately, since the ECS works by interacting with various receptors, especially CB1 and CB2 receptors throughout your body, cannabis may help revitalize it.

How?

Cannabinoids like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) interact with the same receptors your ECS works with to keep your body operating optimally. For example, THC binds to CB1 receptors in the brain to help with pain relief and relaxation, and with CB2 for anti-inflammatory and immune-modifying effects. 

CBD, on the other hand, interacts with ECS enzymes and non-ECS targets to produce anti-inflammatory and mood-stabilizing effects. CBD works primarily by increasing endocannabinoids and interacting with the larger endocannabinoidome (eCBome). The eCBome is an expansion pack of cannabinoid-sensitive targets that aren’t originally labeled as cannabinoid receptors (e.g., PPAR, TRP, and other receptor families).

Making cannabis part of your life may help boost your body’s natural endocannabinoid tone with whole plant-based compounds like cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and more. The widened net of the eCBome may also improve the gut-brain microbiome axis, and fight inflammation and oxidation at the cellular level, targeting key components of age-related decline and chronic disease. Plant-based cannabinoid supplementation could support your ECS and eCBome as you age to protect your health and quality of life, ultimately helping you live longer and better.

Can Cannabis Reverse or Slow Aging?

We need more research to fully understand the long-term effects of cannabis on aging. However, early studies indicate that cannabis might be a natural way to protect your ECS, eCBome, and support overall health as you age.

Of course, this depends on how you use cannabis. If you smoke or vape, you could endanger your lungs and airways, potentially causing chronic lung disease  – although it remains to be proven whether cannabis smoke shortens lifespan. Also, high doses of THC may do more long-term harm than good.

On the other hand, low-dose, long-term use of THC may help slow or even reverse brain aging. According to research published in the ACS Pharmacology & Translation Science, older mice treated with THC experienced improved cognitive function. Similarly, another recent mice study finds that THCA and CBDA improves memory and fights Alzheimer’s pathology. 

While these study findings are interesting, further testing on humans is needed to verify THC’s effectiveness for battling cognitive decline. So far, it appears that its nonintoxicating parent, THCA, is more tolerable and suitable. Along with nonintoxicating relatives, CBDA and CBD, which also have several anti-aging properties in early lab studies. 

Beyond cannabinoids, certain cannabis terpenes like beta-caryophyllene and pinene may also help reverse age-associated memory impairments in early studies. Flavonoids are also being explored as promising neuroprotective agents in the fight against aging and chronic disease. Whole-plant compounds like these boost the entourage effect, increasing the effectiveness of all the components involved and inclining us to seek whole-plant formulations over isolates.

There’s also a 2020 survey involving 568 elderly humans. 15% of the patients admitted to using cannabis within the past three years, while 53% stated they used it regularly. Most of these people primarily used it to improve the quality of life by treating pain, sleep disturbance, anxiety, and depression. Studies generally find that cannabis use is becoming more frequent in older age, and is associated with better brain health.

Lastly, research published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience finds that regular cannabis users between 60 and 88 years old experienced some anti-aging benefits. For example, older and regular cannabis users in the study showed healthier connections within parts of the brain that control attention and memory. Plus, these individuals performed better in memory and executive function tasks, indicating that cannabis may help support cognitive health as you age.

Does Everyone Agree?

No, some researchers argue that cannabis could cause more long-term harm than good. One study of the Lifetime Marijuana Use and Epigenetic Age Acceleration suggests that cannabis might even speed up aging in people who smoke it, primarily because of the act of smoking itself that creates pro-aging, radical hydrocarbons. Fortunately, these effects can be avoided through non-inhalational routes or minimized via dry herb vaporizing.

There’s also the Interaction of Cannabis Use and Aging: From Molecule to Mind study, which discusses how cannabis and aging affect similar brain systems. According to the research, excessive cannabis may contribute to cognitive decline by damaging the same brain systems that aging affects. For example, the systems that govern memory and executive functioning, although they acknowledge the data are conflicting, confounded by alcohol and tobacco, and not long-term conclusive.

However, as mentioned, they also acknowledge how controlled, low-dose cannabis may support healthy aging, as aforementioned studies find. This means more robust research is needed to fully understand the positive and negative long-term effects of cannabis on human aging. Generally, it seems low-dose THC and higher amounts of cannabinoid acids and whole-plant formulations are the way to go.

Cannabis and Age-Related Conditions

Even if cannabis can’t reverse aging, it might make growing old less scary and damaging by potentially alleviating these common age-related conditions:

• Alzheimer’s and Dementia: Cannabis’ neuroprotective properties may help combat neurodegenerative diseases like dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s. It could potentially do this by reducing inflammation, supporting brain cell health, and interacting with the ECS and other targets to regulate processes like memory, mood, mitochondrial function, and neural communication.
• Wrinkling: CBD can protect your skin from sun and pollution damage, which can cause wrinkling and other skin issues that make you look older. Topical CBD can also soothe inflammation to keep your skin smooth and help you maintain a youthful look as you age.

• Arthritis and Chronic Pain: Chronic pain relief is the most common use of cannabis among older individuals, especially boomers. This includes relief from pain caused by arthritis, injuries, and many other issues.
• Sleep Disorders: Insomnia is more prevalent among older adults. Fortunately, multiple studies indicate that cannabinoids and terpenes may help improve sleep quality.  
• Glaucoma: While glaucoma can affect people of all ages, it’s more common in adults over 40. Cannabinoids like THC can help reduce intraocular pressure to minimize glaucoma’s effects.
• Appetite Loss: Getting the munchies after cannabis use may be a big help if you’re an older adult battling reduced appetite.
• Depression and Anxiety in Seniors: Low doses of cannabis, or even better, hemp products, may help the elderly regulate their mood. However, its effects on depression and anxiety may vary between individuals and dosing sensitivity.

READ: Medical Cannabis for Older Patients: How Cannabis Therapy Can Benefit Senior Citizens

Cannabis Risks, Side Effects, and Concerns for Older Adults

Cannabis can help improve the elderly’s quality of life, but correct usage is key to experiencing desired effects and minimizing unwanted effects. For instance, using high-THC cannabis increases the risk of overwhelming impairing effects, which may cause more harm than good. 

However, non-intoxicating hemp is naturally low in THC and rich in beneficial acidic cannabinoids, terpenes, and other whole-plant compounds that support healthy aging. CBD and CBG hemp oils are prime choices for daytime and evening use and relief without impairment.

Also, cannabis may interact poorly with some of the medications you use as you age, such as blood thinners, sedatives, antidepressants, and medications for heart conditions or diabetes. As such, before using cannabis as an older adult, talk to your doctor to ensure it’s safe and won’t interfere with your current treatments.

Dos and Don’ts of Using Cannabis as You Age

Dos

• Do use full-spectrum cannabis products as they offer more whole-plant compounds and balanced effects than pure THC or CBD isolates.
• Do consult your doctor to confirm that cannabis won’t interact poorly with the medications you’re taking.
• Do start low and go slow, avoiding high doses that may lead to unwanted or overwhelming effects.
• Do choose products tailored to your needs, such as CBD or CBG-dominant strains for inflammation or edibles for longer-lasting effects.
• Do keep track of how cannabis affects your sleep, appetite, mood, and cognitive function to identify if it’s working or not.
• Do stay updated on cannabis laws and new medical findings to ensure you’re using it safely and legally. Remember that hemp is federally legal in all 50 states, but local laws may vary.

Don’ts

• Don’t self-medicate for conditions or replace prescribed treatments with cannabis unless approved by your doctor.
• Don’t mix cannabis with alcohol or sedatives, as this can increase drowsiness and the risk of falls or other side effects.
• Don’t assume all cannabis products are the same, as potency, strain, and delivery methods can vary widely.
• Don’t ignore it if you feel dizzy, disoriented, uncomfortable, or anxious after using cannabis. Instead, stop and consult a healthcare provider.

Other Things You Can Do to Slow Aging

1. Eat a balanced, nutrient-rich diet to support brain and body health.
2. Exercise regularly to improve circulation, mobility, and cognitive function.
3. Stay mentally active by reading, solving puzzles, or learning new skills.
4. Get quality sleep to support cellular repair and cognitive health.
5. Stay socially connected to boost mood and protect against cognitive decline.
6. Use sunscreen daily to protect your skin from UV damage, skin cancer, and premature aging.
7. Stay hydrated to maintain skin elasticity and support bodily functions.
8. Limit alcohol and avoid any smoking to prevent harming your body.
9. Take supplements recommended by your doctor, such as omega-3s or vitamin D.
10. Keep up with regular checkups to monitor your health and catch issues early.