Evaluation of THC-Related Neuropsychiatric Symptoms Among Adults Aged 50 Years and Older: A Systematic Review and Metaregression Analysis
Evaluation of THC-Related Neuropsychiatric Symptoms Among Adults Aged 50 Years and Older: A Systematic Review and Metaregression Analysis
Regular use of cannabis high in delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is associated with increased risk of psychotic symptoms among young people. This finding has not been explored as deeply in adults who use cannabis-based medications. Velayudhan et al. conducted a meta-analysis to examine the correlation between usage of cannabis-based medications (CBMs) and neuropsychiatric adverse events using data from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in people aged 50 years or older.
The analysis pooled data from RCTs using THC-only CBMs as well as CBD and THC combinations; the median age sampled was 58.2 years old. Results suggest significant positive association with incident rate ratios of dizziness or lightheadedness associated with cannabis-based medications, with THC dose as a moderator (p = .001). The analyses also found a positive correlation between the use of cannabis-based medications and incident rate ratios of thinking/perception disorders, moderated by THC dose (p <.001). However, higher THC dose was not associated with other neuropsychiatric adverse events in the randomized trials. The analyses results, while significant, faced some limitations such as use of self-reports and a lack of studies in populations older than 65 years of age.
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