We\u2019re here to guide you on how CBD can be used for seniors. We aim to answer your questions about what CBD is, if CBD is safe for the elderly, and the top 5 possible benefits of CBD for seniors and older adults.<\/p>\n
So, what is CBD? As the stigma around cannabis subsides, more people are being drawn to this question, and a 2020 Consumer Reports survey<\/a> noted a 14% rise from the previous year, with 20% of Americans aged 65 and over saying they\u2019d tried CBD oil.<\/p>\n Another poll<\/a> found almost one in five Americans over 50 are now using some kind of CBD product available on the market.<\/p>\n CBD (also known as cannabidiol) is one of the many naturally occurring chemicals found within the marijuana plant. It\u2019s now meeting more interest as CBD can be extracted and isolated from these other chemicals, such as THC.<\/p>\n Many products such as CBD oils, vapes, and edibles are now thriving thanks to this extraction as it does not give the \u2018high\u2019 effect found with THC but still works with our endocannabinoid system (ECS) to bring about great potential benefits.<\/p>\n As the evidence grows, the safety of CBD for seniors, adults, and young people alike is showing no cause for concern.<\/p>\n A WHO report<\/a> found that CBD exhibits no effects that risk addiction or abuse, nor is there any evidence of public health-related problems such as overdoses associated with the use of pure CBD.<\/p>\n The biggest risk with CBD comes from potential drug interactions, so whether you\u2019re elderly or not, it’s important to check these before using CBD for helping any ailments.<\/p>\n As older generations tend to take more prescription meds, it\u2019s also key to consider taking half the adult dose and building up, which would mean starting at 2.5 mg of CBD.<\/p>\n Check out our blog post \u2018CBD drug interactions: 9 drugs that may interact with CBD<\/a>\u2019 for more info.<\/p>\n Chronic pain is a particular burden for the elderly and seniors, with the aches and illnesses of older life turning a simple trip to the supermarket into a task too great to handle.<\/p>\n Studies<\/a> show that CBD can have a positive impact on chronic pain thanks to the mediation of pain regulators such as serotonin, as well as benefitting chronic conditions such as arthritis.<\/p>\n Likewise, the many forms of inflammation that mother nature throws our way can in turn cause symptoms and chronic pain to worsen.<\/p>\n Luckily, she also throws us CBD which, in addition to the regulation of serotonin, has the ability to combat many forms of inflammation.<\/p>\n As mentioned, another headache faced by seniors comes from arthritis, and it\u2019s estimated that around half of the adult population lives with it.<\/p>\n This is where cannabinoid comes in, as for seniors and older adults CBD offers a great natural remedy thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, as found in this 2020 study<\/a>.<\/p>\n The study goes into detail on how CBD can be good for helping arthritis via targeting synovial fibroblasts under inflammatory conditions.<\/p>\n More studies are needed, but these anti-inflammatory benefits are cropping up in much of the CBD literature that continues to grow.<\/p>\n Results in a biomolecules journal<\/a> found that CBD could be a strong potential therapy for not only depression, but also anxiety, schizophrenia, and other related psychotic disorders.<\/p>\n CBD\u2019s interaction with our ECS receptors, along with additional elements key in emotional responses and cognitive processing, ultimately show that CBD plays a significant role in the regulation of anxiety- and depressive-related behaviors, cognition, and locomotion.<\/p>\n As well as anxiety, CBD can also reduce symptoms of depression thanks to this improvement of cognitive impairment, and the reduced discomfort in social situations that many struggle with.<\/p>\n Another of the problems faced with getting older is neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases such as Parkinson\u2019s, Alzheimer\u2019s, and dementia.<\/p>\n As many of these diseases are on the rise, so too is the understanding of CBD\u2019s ability to help them. CBD has been found to have neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties for battling these conditions.<\/p>\n CBD has huge potential to help millions, Alzheimer\u2019s is the most common form of dementia, and alone effects over 33 million people worldwide.<\/p>\n An Ethnopharmacology journal<\/a> found that using CBD for seniors with Alzheimer\u2019s can attack the disease from many angles while reversing and preventing the development of cognitive deficits.<\/p>\n For dementia, a study<\/a> looking at CBD and THC found half of the subjects decreased or stopped other psychotropic medications as a result of improved behavior, decreased constipation from fewer opioids, lack of side effects, and the effectiveness persisting after two months.<\/p>\n With Parkinson\u2019s, CBD treatment was found to reduce the psychotic symptoms while demonstrating no worsening of motor function, as seen in this Psychopharmacology study<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sleep issues can be some of the hardest-hitting for anyone, and the implications can stop your body and mind from being able to heal and fuel you for the next day as they should.<\/p>\n Prescription meds can be effective, but they come with their own risks and side effects that can lead to further problems down the line, with many being notoriously addictive.<\/p>\n Studies<\/a> point to the improvement in sleep mentioned by those using CBD but also highlight how CBD can show better results with the treatment of anxiety.<\/p>\n As anxiety is often linked with sleep problems, the benefits of CBD for seniors and older adults can help from a number of angles and often overlap, as in this example.<\/p>\n The research on CBD and its benefits for seniors is still in its infancy, but we already know of more ways that CBD can aid your ailments.<\/p>\n Other notable benefits of using CBD for older adults and seniors include:<\/p>\n As many of the conditions associated with older age leave the sufferer without an appetite, being able to stimulate it can prevent conditions from worsening, and improve overall recovery with improved health.<\/p>\n Although the mix of CBD and THC is most effective at stimulating the appetite, solely using CBD can also have an impact.<\/p>\n Again as a result of CBD reacting with our body\u2019s ECS receptors, a reduction of inflammation can be found at many points in the body.<\/p>\n Many athletes are in fact turning to CBD to help with injury recovery because of this, and the benefits of CBD for seniors are no different.<\/p>\n For more on this, have a look at our blog post \u2018CBD for athletes: 8 professionals who openly talk about CBD<\/a>\u2019.<\/p>\n As we\u2019ve addressed above, CBD has the ability to influence not only depression but also overlaps into helping with anxiety in the same way.<\/p>\n This has been most noted in specific moments that tend to bring anxiety, such as before public speaking.<\/p>\nIs CBD safe for seniors\/older adults\/the elderly?<\/h2>\n
Top 5 benefits of CBD for seniors<\/h2>\n
1. Chronic pain<\/h3>\n
2. Arthritis<\/h3>\n
3. Depression<\/h3>\n
4. Neurodegenerative and Autoimmune Diseases (Parkinson\u2019s, Alzheimer\u2019s, dementia)<\/h3>\n
5. Sleep<\/h3>\n
Other notable benefits<\/h2>\n
Appetite stimulation<\/h3>\n
Reduced inflammation<\/h3>\n
Anxiety<\/h3>\n