February 4, 2026
Grandma’s big brain: miracle or munchies math?
Cannabis usage in older adults linked to larger brain, better cognitive function
Internet erupts: ‘big-brain grandma’ claim sparks jokes, nitpicks, and ‘correlation?’ vibes
TLDR: Study finds older cannabis users linked to larger brain regions and better thinking, but commenters fire back with memes, nitpicks, and dementia warnings. The big debate: interesting association or misleading headline, since researchers admit it’s not proof of cause and many seniors now use cannabis for pain and sleep.
A new CU Anschutz study says older adults who’ve used cannabis showed larger volumes in certain brain regions and better thinking skills. But the comments section? Absolute chaos. One camp is cracking jokes — cue the meme-ready line about “big-brained olds” — while skeptics slam the brakes with a chorus of “isn’t this just correlation?” and “what about heavy use?” Researchers do stress limits: product potency wasn’t tracked, and bigger brain volume doesn’t automatically mean better; it may just suggest less age-related shrinkage. Still, the headline had folks buzzing.
Pedants pounced first: one reader quipped that the journal name “Alcohol and Drugs” is like saying “beef and meat,” drawing laughs and eye rolls in equal measure. A hot take argued weed is a “luxury” and that smarter people often have more access to luxuries — implying the brains came first, not the buds. Others pushed back with receipts, posting a PubMed link warning that heavy long-term use has been tied to dementia. The vibe: funny memes vs. cautious science. The study looked at 26,362 people ages 40–77, focusing on memory hubs like the hippocampus, but critics want controlled trials. Bottom line, the community is split between “nice if true” and “show me causation,” with the humor dial turned to 11.
Key Points
- •Study of 26,362 adults aged 40–77 found greater lifetime cannabis use generally associated with larger regional brain volumes.
- •Cannabis use was also generally linked to better cognitive performance in domains like memory, processing speed, attention, and executive function.
- •Researchers focused on brain regions with high CB1 receptor density and assessed regional, not total, brain volumes.
- •Most examined regions showed a positive relationship between brain volume and cognitive performance in the context of aging.
- •Study limitations include unknown cannabis product constituents and potency; sex was considered as a potential moderating factor.