A surprising source of dementia relief: cannabis

Brenda Roberts says her husband, Mark Roberts, takes a liquid dose of cannabis twice a day. (Image: Nick King for WSJ)

Sun, 17 Nov 2024

By Sumathi ReddyMore older adults in the US are using marijuana for sleep, anxiety and pain. A small but growing number are taking it to manage their dementia symptoms.Doctors who prescribe cannabis to dementia patients say it can alleviate anxiety, agitation and pain, and improve sleep, appetite and mood. While there isn’t much definitive research on the use of cannabis for dementia, several small studies have backed its usefulness in soothing agitation.Roughly 20% of the people who come for a cannabis consultation now are dementia...

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