←Geriatric Patients
Study register · detail Narrative Review · Geriatric Patients · 2019

Medical Cannabis for Older Patients

Minerbi et al. ·Drugs & Aging Impact 4.0
Mixed 100 citations
SampleNarrative Review
Blindingunklar
DesignNarrative Review
Key finding

The evidence for the benefit of cannabinoids in older patients is overall low, while the risk of adverse effects (cognitive, cardiovascular, gait safety) is classified as significant.

Summary

Narrative review on medical cannabis in older patients; evidence for symptom relief (chronic pain, sleep disorders, cancer symptoms) sparse overall, almost all study participants <60 years. Significant concerns regarding cognitive, cardiovascular and fall risks in older adults. Recommendation: individualized benefit-risk assessment and shared decision-making.

SummaryNarrative review on efficacy and safety of cannabinoids and medical cannabis in older patients (≥60 years), with focus on pain, sleep disorders, cancer-related symptoms and mood disorders. The evidence base is classified as sparse overall, with significant risks for cognitive, cardiovascular and gait and stability disorders in older adults being emphasized.
Quality profile
Sample size —
Blinding —
Effect size Mixed
Citations / year ★★★★★
Authors
Minerbi A, Häuser W, Fitzcharles M
DOI 10.1007/s40266-018-0616-5↗
Design: Narrative Review
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Indication
Further studies on Geriatric Patients
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A Ceolin et al. · 2024 · The journal of nutrition, health & aging
4 citations
The potential of cannabinoids in managing cancer-related anorexia in older adults: a systematic review of the literature.
Mixed Systematic Review

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A Rosenberg et al. · 2026 · The American journal of geriatric psychiatry
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A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Safety and Efficacy of Dronabinol for Agitation in Alzheimer's Disease.
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n=75 Alzheimer-Patienten mit Agitation (NPI-C A/A ≥4), randomisiert doppelblind placebokontrolliert; Dronabinol (THC) bis 10 mg/Tag vs. Placebo über 3 Wochen (5 akademische Zentren, USA). Pittsburgh Agitation Scale (PAS): signifikant stärkere Abnahme unter Dronabinol (Differenz –0,74/Woche, SE 0,3, p=0,015, Effektgröße 0,53). NPI-C A/A Differenz –1,26 (SE 0,67, p=0,094). Keine erhöhte Intoxikation; Somnolenz als einzige signifikante Nebenwirkung. Adjunktives Dronabinol sicher und klinisch wirksam bei Agitation bei Alzheimer-Demenz.

10.1016/j.jagp.2025.10.011 View study →
A Pisani et al. · 2021 · Drugs & Aging
19 citations
Safety and Tolerability of Natural and Synthetic Cannabinoids in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Open-Label Trials and Observational Studies.
Mixed Systematische Review und Meta-Analyse

SR und Meta-Analyse (k=38 Studien, N=2.341, Durchschnittsalter 63,2 Jahre); THC: Inzidenzrate (IR) aller UAW 122,18 (95%-KI 38,23–253,56), schwere UAW IR=0; CBD: IR aller UAW 111,91 (95%-KI 1,24–495,93), keine schweren UAW; THC:CBD-Kombination: schwere UAW IR 21,32 (95%-KI 0,18–93,26) — Cannabinoide insgesamt gut verträglich bei Erwachsenen >50 Jahre.

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