Marijuana hospital visits linked to dementia diagnosis within 5 years, study finds

Subscribe to CNN’s Life, But Better newsletter for tips and tools to enhance your well-being. This week, a study suggests that regular marijuana use may increase the risk of developing dementia. The research, published in JAMA Neurology, found that individuals who had been hospitalized due to cannabis use had a higher risk of dementia within five years compared to those hospitalized for other reasons. Dr. Daniel Myran, a coauthor of the study, emphasized the importance of health professionals screening for cannabis use disorder, as it can lead to various health and social problems. The study also highlighted the increasing potency of marijuana in recent years, contributing to a rise in addiction and cannabis use disorder globally. Researchers observed a significant increase in emergency room visits related to marijuana over a 13-year period, emphasizing the need for awareness and transparency regarding marijuana usage for both medical and recreational purposes.