Dataset Information

Characteristics and Patterns of Marijuana Use in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES:To understand patterns of marijuana use in community-dwelling older adults in Colorado. DESIGN:Anonymous survey. SETTING:Two academic geriatric primary care clinics. PARTICIPANTS:English-speaking individuals. MEASUREMENTS:We assessed self-reported characteristics and patterns of marijuana use and effect on targeted symptoms. Survey analysis focused on current users, defined as individuals who had used marijuana in the past 3 years. RESULTS:Three hundred forty-five individuals completed the survey (55% response rate); 113 (32%) had used marijuana in the past, of whom 55 (16%) had used since legalization. More than half of current users were aged 75 and older, and one-quarter were aged 85 and older. Most current users were white women. Of current users, 44% used marijuana products at least weekly for common conditions including chronic pain, depression, anxiety, and insomnia, and most found marijuana helpful for these conditions. Most respondents reported obtaining marijuana recreationally (67%) without a prescription. Nine respondents reported negative side effects attributable to marijuana use. CONCLUSION:To our knowledge, this is the first study to characterize marijuana use of older adults in a state in which it is legal for medical and recreational use. Marijuana was used for several common geriatric conditions, and respondents reported few side effects. The small number of survey respondents, the lack of generalizability in states where marijuana sales are illegal, and participation bias were the main study limitations. Further research is needed to better understand useful or harmful effects in this population. J Am Geriatr Soc 66:2167-2171, 2018.

SUBMITTER: Reynolds IR

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6476562 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Characteristics and Patterns of Marijuana Use in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Reynolds Ian R IR Fixen Danielle R DR Parnes Bennett L BL Lum Hillary D HD Shanbhag Prajakta P Church Skotti S Linnebur Sunny A SA Orosz Gretchen G

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 20181006 11

<h4>Objectives</h4>To understand patterns of marijuana use in community-dwelling older adults in Colorado.<h4>Design</h4>Anonymous survey.<h4>Setting</h4>Two academic geriatric primary care clinics.<h4>Participants</h4>English-speaking individuals.<h4>Measurements</h4>We assessed self-reported characteristics and patterns of marijuana use and effect on targeted symptoms. Survey analysis focused on current users, defined as individuals who had used marijuana in the past 3 years.<h4>Results</h4>Th ...[more]

PMID: 30291748

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Project description:BackgroundMultiple neuroimaging and clinical biomarkers have been identified to predict cognitive decline and clinical progression to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia. However, early biomarkers associated with transition to and reversion from cognitive impairment (cognitive migration) require further understanding. We investigated the impacts of baseline neuroimaging and clinical biomarkers on cognitive migration in a community-dwelling older cohort.MethodsWe studied 391 participants from the Wake Forest Alzheimer's Disease Research Center Clinical Core cohort who underwent neuropsychological assessment and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). At baseline, each participant was categorized to a functional/cognitive state using global Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) score: CDR = 0 indicates normal cognitive function; CDR = 0.5 is minimal cognitive impairment. The primary outcome was cognitive migration status determined by CDR change between baseline and follow-up (mean difference = 13.9 months): CDR-0 Stables (no migration; maintained CDR = 0), CDR-0.5 Stables (no migration; maintained CDR = 0.5), Migrants- (negative migration; CDR 0 to CDR 0.5), and Reverters+ (positive migration; CDR 0.5 to CDR 0). Baseline T1-weighted MRI was analyzed for gray matter (GM) volume using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). For VBM, we used a two-sample t-test controlling for age, sex, education years and intracranial volume for group comparisons: CDR-0 Stables vs CDR-0.5 Stables, CDR-0 Stables vs Migrants-, CDR-0.5 Stables vs Reverters+ and Migrants- vs Reverters+ (thresholded at k = 30 voxels, p <.01 uncorrected). Oral Glucose Tolerance Testing (OGTT-2h) assessed blood glucose 120-minute post challenge. Multinomial logistic regression estimated average predicted probabilities of cognitive migration status using OGTT-2h and age range (55-65, 65-75 and 75+) as predictors.ResultsVBM analyses revealed lower GM volume in inferior and middle temporal gyri, hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, and superior and inferior frontal regions in Migrants- and CDR-0.5 Stables. Predicted probabilities indicated that individuals aged 55-65 with normal OGTT-2h levels were more likely to have better cognitive migration status (e.g., CDR-0 Stables or Reverters+) than those aged 75+ with high OGTT-2h.ConclusionsLower GM volumes and high OGTT-2h glucose levels may predict worse cognitive migration status in early stages of disease. The opposite is true for better cognitive migration. Validating these biomarkers may guide clinical diagnosis and treatments.

Project description:Introduction: Diminishing cognitive and physical functions, worsening psychological symptoms, and increased mortality risk and morbidity typically accompany aging. The aging population's health needs will continue to increase as the proportion of the population aged > 50 years increases. Pet ownership (PO) has been linked to better health outcomes in older adults, particularly those with chronic conditions. Much of the evidence is weak. Little is known about PO patterns as people age or the contribution of PO to successful aging in community-dwelling older adults. This study examines PO patterns among healthy community-dwelling older adults and the relationship of PO to cognitive and physical functions and psychological status. Methods: Participants in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (> 50 years old, N = 378) completed a battery of cognitive, physical function, and psychological tests, as well as a PO questionnaire. Descriptive and non-parametric or general/generalized linear model analyses were conducted for separate outcomes. Results: Most participants (82%) had kept pets and 24% have pets: 14% dogs, 12% cats, 3% other pets. The most frequent reasons for having pets included enjoyment (80%) and companionship (66%). Most owners had kept the pet they had the longest for over 10 years (70%). PO was lower in older decades (p < 0.001). Pet owners were more likely to live in single-family homes and reside with others (p = 0.001) than non-owners. Controlling for age, PO was associated independently with better cognitive function (verbal leaning/memory p = 0.041), dog ownership predicted better physical function (daily energy expenditure, p = 0.018), and cat ownership predicted better cognitive functioning (verbal learning/memory, p = 0.035). Many older adults who did not own pets (37%) had regular contact with pets, which was also related to health outcomes. Conclusion: PO is lower at older ages, which mirrors the general pattern of poorer cognitive and physical function, and psychological status at older ages. PO and regular contact with pets (including PO) are associated with better cognitive status compared with those who did not own pets or had no regular contact with pets independent of age. Dog ownership was related to better physical function. Longitudinal analysis is required to evaluate the association of PO and/or regular contact with maintenance of health status over time.

Dataset Information

Characteristics and Patterns of Marijuana Use in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Publications

Characteristics and Patterns of Marijuana Use in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

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