How cannabis use may disrupt sleep in midlife
Despite widespread assumptions among users that cannabis use can help them sleep, the substance may adversely impact the quality of sleep.
In a study published in JAMA Network Open, investigators examined the effects of cumulative and recent recreational cannabis use on measures of sleep among more than 1,200 middle-aged participants who took part in the CARDIA study and CARDIA Year-35 Ancillary Study. Participants wore a wrist actigraph to record objective measures of sleep quality for a period of one week, such as sleep duration, sleep percentage, sleep fragmentation and wakefulness following sleep onset. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to determine subjective sleep quality.
The investigators found that both the participants who had cumulative recreational cannabis use and those with recent recreational cannabis use experienced poorer objective sleep quality compared with individuals reporting no or former cannabis use — resulting in lower percentage of time asleep, worse sleep fragmentation and longer wakefulness following the onset of sleep. Those with recent cannabis use also exhibited longer sleep duration versus an optimal six to eight hours. However, there was no connection between either type of cannabis use and self-reported sleep quality.
As a result of the findings, the investigators emphasized the need for subjective and objective sleep assessments among individuals using cannabis in a recreational capacity.
Read more: JAMA Network Open
For more information, visit the ADA Oral Health Topic on cannabis at ada.org.
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