SENIORS and CANNABIS

Seniors who use cannabis are more physically active than non-cannabis users By Michael Patterson NHA ,OTR/L, CEAS on the Stanford 7-Day Physical Activity ReA study published in the July 2020 issue of call than non-users (p=.068). American Journal of Health and Behavior Analysis found that persons over 60 years old who The study clearly shows that the use of use cannabis exercise more and have a lowcannabis for Seniors does not inhibit but er BMI than non-cannabis users. A link to the increases functional mobility, exercise, and study can be found below: overall physical activity. The study did not https://www.ingentaconnect.com/contenaddress the cannabis dosage per patient tone/png/ajhb/2020/00000044/00000004/ who used cannabis and the method of art00005 ingestion. Therefore, the standardization of Adults, over ager 50 are the fastest growing a dose and method of ingestion of cannabis population of cannabis users in the United specific to each patient prior to exercise in States, with people over 65 demonstrating the largest increase in usage. The reasons for cannabis use are varied, but typically center around some of the common complaints associated with aging, including pain. The more data demonstrating the benefits of cannabis for seniors, the better physicians and health care practitioners can use cannabis to decrease the symptoms of aging and increase quality of life for their patients. By age 75, approximately 33% of men and 50% of women are no longer physically active. This inactivity can decrease functional mobility and increase health problems related to being sedentary (muscle atrophy, increased falls, increased pain, decreased physical independence). The goal of the research was to understand if cannabis use impacted results of an intervention to increase physical activity in sedentary adults aged 60 and over. The study was performed by the University of Colorado-Boulder Department of Psychology and Neuroscience. It consisted of a FORCE study (FORCE- Fitness, Older Adults, and Resting State Connectivity Enhancement) in which adults 60 and over would be randomly assigned to either a low or moderate-intensity in a 16-week supervised exercise program. A total of 164 participants were included in the study. Participants were recruited through multiple methods including advertisements in senior community centers, ads on social media, and publication bulletins in AARP magazine. Data from the study showed the body mass index (BMI) for cannabis users was significantly lower than non-cannabis users (p=.007). Also, Cannabis users reported .70 more days of exercise unknown. However, from a physician standpoint, cannabis use continues to demonstrate positive outcomes and few side effects compared to traditional pharmaceutical medicines. From my experience in over 26 years of healthcare management (SNFs, ALFs, Home Health, outpatient), the longer a patient remains functionally independent in their daily living skills, the better the overall physiological and psychological health is for the patient. With over 350,000 medical cannabis patients currently in Florida, and new patients increasing 3,000-5,000 per week, the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes is not going away. This study provides more clarity and proof that cannabis is a safe and effective “tool’” of Physicians to increase functional mobility and quality of life for their patients.