Cannabis, Brain Health, and Aging with Kent Hutchison, PhD
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In this episode, Dr. Kent Hutchison discusses how his research on cannabis grew from a background in alcohol and nicotine studies into a broader effort to understand both the risks and potential benefits of cannabis use. He describes findings from large brain-imaging datasets suggesting that lifetime cannabis use was associated with larger regional brain volumes and better performance on some cognitive tests in older adults. He also discusses why cannabis may affect adolescents and older adults differently, including age-related changes in the endocannabinoid system. The conversation explores possible neuroprotective effects of cannabinoids, the use of cannabis among older adults for pain, sleep, and anxiety, and emerging research on cannabis and exercise. A central message is that cannabis effects depend on the product, dose, route of administration, age, health status, and reason for use.
Kent Hutchison, PhD is a professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder and Founder of the Center for Research and Education Addressing Cannabis and Health (CU REACH). Dr. Hutchison has been an NIH-funded scientist for the past 20 years and has published numerous papers in the area of substance use. He recently served on the National Academy of Sciences committee that published a comprehensive report on the health effects of cannabis in late 2016 and has given two congressional briefings on this subject matter. He is also the principal investigator or co-investigator on three NIH-funded studies examining the effects of cannabis products purchased in Colorado, including flower, edibles, and concentrates. These studies compare CBD-only products, THC combined with CBD, and THC-only products on cognitive outcomes, anxiety, and pain using a mobile pharmacology lab. His research focuses on several patient populations, including pain patients, individuals who want to stop using opioids, veterans, and older adults. The mobile lab allows for the assessment of blood levels of THC and CBD and tests whether blood levels of these cannabinoids predict key outcomes, including reductions in pain and opioid use. Dr. Hutchison has also launched an online educational program at the University of Colorado focused on cannabis and health.