Male Cannabis Users Seem to Show Less Cognitive Decline, Study Finds

Getting high on cannabis is known to temporarily impact a person’s memory, making it harder to retain and recall new information. But how the brain copes with cannabis in the long run is less clear.

A decades-long study of more than 5,000 men in Denmark has now uncovered “no significant harmful effects of cannabis use on age-related cognitive decline.”

The findings stand in contrast to what has been found for a history of tobacco or excessive alcohol use, both of which are associated with faster cognitive decline. While more research is needed, especially among heavy, continuous cannabis users, this initial data is a positive sign.

In the new study, researchers at the University of Copenhagen measured cognitive decline using Denmark’s conscription board intelligence test, which is mandatory for men between the ages of 18 and 26. A total of 5,162 participants retook the test at around age 64, between 35 and 53 years after their first go.