Work

Differential impact of Cannabis abuse on neurological disorders

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Cannabis abuse is increasingly linked to adverse neurological and cerebrovascular outcomes, yet its impact on diverse neurological conditions remains unclear. We evaluated clinical outcomes of cannabis abuse across ten disorders: cluster headache, neuropathy, multiple sclerosis, stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, migraine, and tension-type headache. Using data from the TriNetX global federated health research network (143 healthcare organizations), we identified patients with and without cannabis abuse for each disorder. Propensity score matching balanced demographic and clinical characteristics. Patients were followed for up to three years post-index event, and outcomes were compared by assessing emergency department (ED) visits, pain prevalence, mortality, and cerebrovascular events using risk ratios. Cannabis abuse was consistently linked to significantly higher ED utilization and pain prevalence across all conditions. For example, neuropathy patients with cannabis abuse experienced 25.8 % ED visits compared to 19.3 % in non-users. Although trends toward increased mortality and recurrent stroke/TIA were noted, these differences were generally not statistically significant. Our findings demonstrate a differential impact of cannabis abuse across neurological disorders, markedly elevating acute care needs and pain burden. These results highlight the need for tailored management and additional research.

Source: Journal of the Neurological Sciences

DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2025.123527

Authors: Younes Adam Tabi, Eva Christina Meyer

Institution: University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein

Language: English

Topic: Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research

Subfield: Pharmacology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,640