Too Old For Cannabidiol? A Guide to CBD for Seniors

Does it ever feel like CBD is a trend especially for the young? It certainly shouldn’t be! Older adults are actually well-poised to benefit from this therapeutic, non-psychotropic compound.

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Cannabidiol, nicknamed CBD, is one of the main active compounds found in the cannabis plant. By itself, it won’t make you high, but it can still interact with your brain and body in powerful and often therapeutic ways.

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As we get older, our ailments seem to multiply, and so do our medications. That’s why, as we age, we may actually stand to benefit from CBD more and more. Emerging research trends indicate that CBD for seniors might help chronic pain management, anxiety, and insomnia. Not only does CBD have the potential to soothe chronic conditions, it could also help to replace harsh medications with harmful side effects.

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However, most CBD research has been performed in younger populations, less than 65 years old. Why is this important? As we age, our physiology changes. Many metabolic processes slow. As a result, bioactive compounds like CBD can actually become less available to our bodies. At the same time, CBD sticks around in the body for a longer period of time, which means older individuals could be more susceptible to negative side effects. On top of that, seniors are more likely to be on other medications that could be contraindicated for CBD.

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So just how are we to harness the therapeutic power of CBD for the older population? We can’t simply take data performed on a younger demographic and apply it to people over 65. We need to be intentional about administering CBD in a way that increases bioavailability, while at the same time controlling dosage in a way that minimizes side effects.

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Whether for yourself or for a loved one, this article will explain why and how CBD can be such a powerful therapeutic for the aging population. We’ll explain the best ways to use CBD for elderly individuals and seniors, especially for chronic pain from arthritis and insomnia. And of course, we’ll be sure to address safety considerations and drug-drug interactions.

Oral CBD for Arthritis

Arthritis is one of the most prevalent causes of pain among older adults. Arthritis means inflammation of the joints, and includes various types. It can cause both severe pain and loss of joint function, and almost always results in a decline in quality of life. People suffering from chronic pain due to arthritis are often dependent on pain medications like NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like ibuprofen or aspirin) which become less and less effective over time, and also cause other health issues if used long-term. Some patients suffering from arthritis may also resort to opioids, which have a stronger analgesic effect but are dangerously addictive and can result in other side effects.

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CBD could offer relief for people suffering from severe arthritis, thanks to its analgesic (pain-relieving) and anti-inflammatory properties. Cannabinoid receptors are actually present within synovial joints – that includes common joints like hips, shoulders, elbows, and knees. Remember, the cannabinoid receptors are like the “parking spots” where CBD can exert an effect on the body. That means that CBD should be able to park in synovial joints, so it can act on the front-line to combat inflammation and pain.

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A 2022 cross-sectional study of people suffering from severe arthritis showed that CBD could improve not only joint pain, but also physical function. More than half of the participants in the study were also able to decrease or completely stop using other medications like NSAIDS and opioids. On top of that, many of the participants experienced improved sleep quality thanks to the calming effects of CBD and the reduction in pain. Check out our product page to find the best CBD gummies for arthritis in seniors.

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These CBD benefits are not limited to arthritis. CBD is thought to have the ability to promote tissue regeneration, which can help to heal other musculoskeletal conditions.

Topical CBD for Arthritis

A 2022 study looked specifically at the use of topical CBD cream to improve arthritis of the basal thumb joint. Similar to the studies mentioned above, the authors found that the use of topical CBD decreased arthritic pain, and also improved joint function. Check here for the best CBD cream for arthritis in seniors.

CBD for Sleep in Elderly Individuals

Sleep is a great example of how CBD can have a different effect depending on age group. To understand why, we’ll need to bring up the endocannabinoid system – the system in the body that is responsible for binding THC and CBD. In its normal function, unaltered by exogenous cannabinoids like THC/CBD, the endocannabinoid system plays a role in sleep and circadian rhythm. That’s partly why it’s a key therapeutic target for sleep disorders.

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As we age, so too do our internal systems. Evidence suggests that the endocannabinoid system moderates sleep differently as we age, which could lead to difficulty sleeping. In fact, older people are more likely to use cannabis and CBD for insomnia compared to younger users.

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A 2021 study looked specifically at the effect of cannabis and CBD use on sleep quality across different age groups. Cannabis itself is not currently shown to improve sleep. However, CBD, which has a sedating effect, was shown to increase sleep quality and duration. This effect was even stronger in the older population. This could be because older adults metabolize CBD more slowly, which could lead to increased volume and distribution of CBD in the body over the course of the night.

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Unsurprisingly, there is still some conflicting data on the effects of CBD for sleep. Like most things cannabis-related, it is probably highly individual. While it’s always good to hear what science has to say, the best CBD gummy for you is the one that you tried and worked best for you.

Regulating the Gut Microbiota

Hippocrates famously said that “all disease begins in the gut.” His words proved to be remarkably insightful for someone who lived about 2500 years before the discovery of the gut microbiome. Nowadays, we understand that the balance of bacteria in the large intestine has an enormous effect on health – and not just digestive health. The trillions of bacteria that live in our gut are thought to be implicated in a wide variety of diseases and mood disorders.

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As we age, we become more susceptible to over-growth of the “bad” gut bacteria. This imbalance is known as gut dysbiosis, and is related to increased inflammation and other disease factors. Early research suggests that CBD could play a role in anti-aging by regulating the gut-microbiome.

Other Considerations: Are CBD Gummies Safe for Seniors?

As we mentioned above, human physiology changes as we age, and we need to account for that when using CBD to treat older individuals. Because metabolic processes slow as we age, the CBD is not cleared as quickly from the body, which could result in a higher risk of side effects. However, most studies indicate that the side effects of CBD (especially without THC) are mild, and not a major cause for concern.

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A bigger concern is that seniors are more likely to be following complicated medication protocols, which means they are at a higher risk for drug-drug interactions. CBD interacts with biological sites that are common targets for other medications. That means it could either prevent the medication from working, or result in excessively high blood levels of a drug. In particular, people should watch out for any drug that is a CYP3A4 inhibitor or inducer. Of course, anyone on medication should always consult with a doctor before trying CBD.

What Are the Best CBD Gummies for Seniors?

The same metabolic slow-down discussed above may also limit the bioavailability of CBD in seniors. To help compensate for this, seniors can take advantage of other ways to increase bioavailability of CBD. For example, CBD is a lipophilic (“fat-loving”) compound, so formulating CBD edibles in a fatty matrix can help to improve bioavailability. The best CBD gummies for seniors are formulated with triglycerides in order to enhance effectiveness. Consuming CBD alongside fatty foods also works. In general, seniors are recommended to consume CBD alongside a meal. This should help to not only increase bioavailability, but also to create a more stable dose response.

One Last Thing…

The cool thing about some of the research we’ve discussed here is that it demonstrates the preventative role that CBD could play in anti-aging. In other words, it isn’t just that CBD masks pain. Pre-clinical and clinical trials have shown that CBD may help to slow age-related processes including inflammation, oxidative stress, and gut dysbiosis. As usual, remember that more research is still needed to ascertain the effects of CBD, especially with respect to long-term use.

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You can check out our product page to find the best CBD gummies and CBD topicals for seniors or, as always, fill out our contact form or give us a call at (636) 220 - 6960 for a free consultation.