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Cannabis Use and Cognitive Functioning Across the Lifespan

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

To examine the acute and long-term effects of cannabis use on cognitive functioning across the lifespan, and to evaluate the evidence for the hypothesis of developmental sensitivity to cannabis effects.

Recent Findings

Acute cannabis intoxication impairs cognitive functioning, and frequent cannabis use is associated with subtle cognitive deficits after intoxication has passed, in adolescence, young adulthood, and midlife. Longitudinal studies show that more frequent and longer-term cannabis use are associated with cognitive decline, though associations are small and inconsistent in studies of adolescents and young adults and small-moderate in studies of longer-term use to midlife. Older adults are understudied. Findings on prenatal and early postnatal cannabis exposure and cognitive functioning, though mixed, caution against use during pregnancy.

Summary

It seems likely that cannabis use is associated with cognitive deficits across the lifespan. However, the very young and the old are understudied, and there are few within-study comparisons of age differences in cognitive effects. The evidence on age-related differences in sensitivity to cannabis effects on cognitive functioning in humans is inconclusive.

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Funding

Work was supported by National Institute on Aging grant R01AG069939.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 871104, Tempe, AZ, 85287-1104, USA

    Madeline H. Meier, M. Foster Olive & Sofia R. Wernik

  2. University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA

    Olivia A. Jenks

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Meier, M.H., Olive, M.F., Jenks, O.A. et al. Cannabis Use and Cognitive Functioning Across the Lifespan. Curr Addict Rep (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-024-00571-1

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