Health
Several groups say cannabis may help aging Americans manage pain
For the first time ever, more Americans are using marijuana daily than those who drink alcohol every day.
That’s according to the Society for the Study of Addiction.
One group that has sharply increased its marijuana use is senior citizens over the age of 65. Many are using the substance for ailments in place of prescription drugs, but they are having difficulty accessing medical cannabis.
MORE AMERICANS SMOKE MARIJUANA DAILY THAN DRINK ALCOHOL, STUDY CLAIMS
“There is very real psychopharmacology associated with cannabis, and I hadn’t learned anything about that in medical school,” said Dr. Zachary Palace, a board-certified geriatrician.
“As I started to learn more about it, I realized it’s a medication that can really be used very safely in the geriatric population.”
Many older Americans are using marijuana for ailments in place of prescription drugs — but they are having difficulty accessing medical cannabis. That could change. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Palace is featured in a new video, alongside other physicians, patients and politicians, by the Commonwealth Project. Howard Kessler is founder of the effort, which is working to make medical marijuana more widely available, especially for senior citizens.
“Every day we are letting people suffer when we don’t have to,” Kessler said.
Other doctors are now specializing in treatment using cannabis. OB-GYN Dr. Melanie Bone says she sees success every day when it comes to treating senior citizens with marijuana.
Patients say it helps them sleep, makes them feel less drowsy than other prescription drugs — and others were able to stop taking morphine or opioids.
“Status quo was either to not teach at all or maybe a lecture,” she said. “It’s safe, it’s efficacious.” Her patients say it helps them sleep, makes them feel less drowsy than other prescription drugs and others were able to stop taking morphine or opioids.
“For 40 years, I always had pain with something, and now I don’t have it,” said one of Dr. Bone’s patients.
Since the Nixon administration, cannabis has been designated by law as a schedule 1 substance by the Drug Enforcement Association.
A worker organizes cannabis flowers before the opening of the first legal recreational marijuana dispensary in the East Village in the Manhattan borough of New York City, Dec. 29, 2022. (REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo)
“America’s public enemy number one in the United States is drug abuse,” President Richard Nixon said in 1971 amid a crackdown on drug use.
Other schedule 1 substances include heroin, LSD and ecstasy.
“Schedule 1 says there’s no medical use for this substance, and it’s highly addictive and dangerous,” said Robert Kent, former White House general counsel of National Drug Control Policy.
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The classification is more restrictive than Schedule 2, which includes cocaine, fentanyl and meth.
Kent has helped develop drug policy for almost 20 years. He worked as part of President Joe Biden’s White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.
“Schedule 3 means there is a medical use,” former Massachusetts HHS Secretary Marylou Sudders said.
The Health and Human Services Department first recommended rescheduling for marijuana in August of last year. The agency determined cannabis had a use in the medical realm but that there were concerns about possible abuse or dependence on the substance.
“It’s an important move toward reversing longstanding inequities,” President Joe Biden said as the Drug Enforcement Administration moved to re-classify the drug in May.
A logo reading DEA Special Agent is pictured in the Office of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on May 29, 2019, in New York City. (JOHANNES EISELE/AFP via Getty Images)
The DEA announcement was the last major hurdle for rescheduling. The move becomes official after the Office of Management and Budget signs off, followed by a public comment period.
Kent has helped develop drug policy for almost 20 years. He worked as part of President Joe Biden’s White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.
“Everyone seems to be focused on commercial recreational marijuana. What I’ve been really hopeful for is it will open the door for so much more research to occur, and it’ll be much easier to do research,” Kent said.
“I’m particularly interested in research where we can look at use of cannabis, marijuana, as an alternative to prescribed opioids for treating pain and other medical conditions.”
“I’m particularly interested in research where we can look at use of cannabis, marijuana, as an alternative to prescribed opioids for treating pain and other medical conditions.”
Kent says some of the most promising benefits could be the reduction of overdoses.
“It is heartbreaking. Even [in] the most recent numbers from the federal CDC, we’re losing over 100,000 people a year to prescribed opioids,” Kent said.
Many senior citizens are now using cannabis to treat chronic pain, nausea from cancer treatment and other ailments.
Many senior citizens are now using cannabis to treat chronic pain, nausea from cancer treatment and other ailments. (iStock)
“Geriatric patients can be on 10 or more meds very easily, and there’s such a high risk of side effects,” Palace said. “The most impactful effect we saw was pain management. In most cases, they were able to either eliminate or significantly reduce the amount of opioids they were taking, and we didn’t see any side effects.”
The Commonwealth Project proposes a large-scale demonstration model in the state of Massachusetts, similar to Medicare.
“The government takes full responsibility for the health care of people 65 and over, period,” Kessler said. “That’s their job.”
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Throughout the study, major payer providers would provide guidance and education to caregivers, pay for approved cannabis therapies for people 65 and over, and record the results.
“All it’s going to do is, in a structured, observed and controlled way, validate what we already know,” former Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts CEO William Van-Faasen said.
Kessler says tens of millions of people could be helped with the project — but others say more evidence is needed.
A nonprofit co-operative medical marijuana dispenser displays various types of marijuana available to patients in Los Angeles, California. (David McNew/Getty Images)
“I’m not sure that rescheduling — a lot of people think we’re going to have research falling from the sky as a result. I hope they’re right. But I’m a little skeptical because I think it takes money, more than anything, for that research to happen. And so far, bio companies — they don’t see marijuana as a super viable product,” said Kevin Sabet, president and CEO of Smart Approaches to Marijuana.
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Sabet served as an adviser to the Clinton, Obama and Bush administrations. His organization believes cannabis should not be a substitute for medicine before treatments are FDA approved.
“Maybe it’s possible that the opioid manufacturers wouldn’t want it. I think we’re all open to it. Let’s study it, but let’s get the facts out right now. Seventy-five percent of people think that it’s harmless,” Sabet said.
“And they’re not realizing that it stays in your system for a while. It can cause these mental health breakdowns.”
Some doctors say rescheduling could lead to more studies and awareness about the benefits of cannabis.
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“I think the danger is right now, because you have so many states where there are products on the market,” Kent said.
“We should all understand there are seniors who are using — they’re going to these dispensaries in states that have legalized the use. And so it’s already occurring. I think actually Howard’s proposal would control it in a much more significant way.”
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Collagen supplements have exploded in popularity, touted as everything from an anti-aging miracle to a muscle recovery booster.
But a sweeping new review conducted by U.K. researchers suggests that while collagen may help improve skin elasticity and ease arthritis pain, it does little for athletic performance or wrinkle reduction.
Researchers from Anglia Ruskin University analyzed 16 systematic reviews and 113 randomized controlled trials involving nearly 8,000 participants worldwide, which they say is the most extensive evaluation of collagen’s health effects to date.
The review found consistent evidence that collagen supplementation improves skin elasticity and hydration over time and provides significant relief from osteoarthritis-related joint pain and stiffness, according to findings published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum.
A large U.K. review found that collagen supplements may improve skin elasticity and hydration over time. (iStock)
The researchers, however, did not find meaningful improvements in post-exercise muscle recovery, soreness or tendon mechanical properties (strength, springiness and stretch resistance).
“Collagen is not a cure-all, but it does have credible benefits when used consistently over time, particularly for skin and osteoarthritis,” co-author Lee Smith, professor of public health at Anglia Ruskin University, said in a statement.
EXPERIMENTAL SERUM SHOWS PROMISE IN REVERSING BALDNESS WITHIN 20 DAYS
“Our findings show clear benefits in key areas of healthy aging, while also dispelling some of the myths surrounding its use,” Smith added.
Collagen, the most abundant protein in the body, supports skin, bones, tendons, cartilage and connective tissue, according to experts. Natural collagen production begins to drop in early adulthood and declines more sharply with age.
The study found that collagen supplements may help reduce joint pain and stiffness in people with osteoarthritis. (iStock)
The review found that long-term collagen supplementation was linked to improved skin firmness and hydration, but did not help skin roughness — a proxy for visible wrinkles.
Benefits appear to accumulate gradually, suggesting that collagen should not be viewed as an “anti-wrinkle ‘quick fix,’ but as a foundational dermal support for individuals seeking holistic skin maintenance,” the researchers said.
“If we define anti-aging as a product or technique designed to prevent the appearance of getting older, then I believe our findings do support this claim for some parameters,” Smith told the BBC. “For example, an improvement in skin tone and moisture is associated with a more youthful-looking appearance.”
Collagen supplementation was linked to reduced pain and stiffness in people with osteoarthritis, with stronger benefits seen over longer periods of use, and showed modest improvements in muscle mass and tendon structure that may support healthy aging.
Collagen did not significantly improve skin roughness, a marker of visible wrinkles. (iStock)
However, it did not show meaningful results when used as a fast-acting sports performance supplement, and evidence for benefits related to cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure and oral health was mixed or inconclusive.
Dr. Daniel Ghiyam, a California-based physician and longevity specialist, said the findings align with what he sees in clinical practice.
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“Collagen is a targeted support tool, not a foundation of health or performance,” Ghiyam, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. “When marketed that way, it makes sense. When marketed as a cure-all, it doesn’t hold up to the data.”
The authors noted that while many previous collagen studies have received financial support from the supplement industry, the current review did not receive industry funding.
Experts say collagen supplements may offer modest benefits for skin hydration and joint comfort, but they are not a cure-all. (iStock)
The team called for more high-quality clinical trials examining long-term outcomes, optimal dosages and differences between collagen sources, such as marine, bovine and plant-based alternatives.
Among its limitations, the review could not determine whether certain forms of collagen work better than others or what the optimal regimen should be.
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While the review included randomized controlled trials, the quality of the studies varied, with newer research generally showing stronger results.
Experts say more data and studies are needed to build on the findings. They also noted that diet plays a crucial role in skin health.
Collagen supplements, often sold as powders or pills, may improve skin elasticity and ease joint pain, experts say. (iStock)
Dr. Erum Ilyas, a Pennsylvania-based dermatologist and chair of dermatology at Drexel University College of Medicine, noted that the review analyzed previously published meta-analyses rather than generating new primary data.
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“At this time, I have not seen sufficiently strong independent evidence to routinely recommend collagen supplements to my patients,” Ilyas, who was not involved in the review, told Fox News Digital.
“Although some studies show modest improvements in markers such as hydration and elasticity, there remains limited independent, biopsy-confirmed evidence demonstrating sustained increases in dermal collagen content,” she added.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the researchers for comment.
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As colorectal cancer (CRC) is now the leading cause of cancer death in adults under 50, a new report reveals some surprising shifts in the incidence of the disease.
Although rates of CRC have been declining among seniors, those 65 and under are facing a rise in diagnoses, according to a report titled Colorectal Cancer Statistics, 2026, from the American Cancer Society.
Adults 65 and younger comprise nearly half (45%) of all new colorectal cancer cases — a significant increase from 27% in 1995, states the report, which was published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
The disease is rising fastest among adults 20 to 49 years old, at a rate of 3% per year.
Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in adults under 50. (iStock)
Among adults 50 and under, 75% of colorectal cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Half of the diagnoses in that age range are made between the ages of 45 and 49. Although that age group is eligible to receive routine screenings, just 37% do so.
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The report also revealed that rectal cancer is on the rise, now accounting for about one-third (32%) of all CRC cases — an increase from 27% in the mid-2000s.
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“After decades of progress, the risk of dying from colorectal cancer is climbing in younger generations of men and women, confirming a real uptick in disease because of something we’re doing or some other exposure,” said Rebecca Siegel, senior scientific director, surveillance research at the American Cancer Society and lead author of the report, in a press release.
Among adults 50 and under, 75% of colorectal cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Half of the diagnoses in that age range are made between the ages of 45 and 49. (iStock)
“We need to redouble research efforts to understand the cause, but also circumvent deaths through earlier detection by educating clinicians and the general public about symptoms and increasing screening in people 45-54 years.”
It is projected that 158,850 new cases of colorectal cancer will be diagnosed this year, and that the disease will cause 55,230 deaths, per the report.
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More than half of CRC cases can be linked to high-risk behaviors, the researchers said. Those include lack of nutrition, high alcohol consumption, smoking, lack of exercise and obesity.
“These findings further underscore that colorectal cancer is worsening among younger generations and highlight the immediate need for eligible adults to begin screening at the recommended age of 45,” said Dr. William Dahut, chief scientific officer at the American Cancer Society.
When the disease is caught at a local (early) stage, the five-year survival rate is 95%. (iStock)
“The report also shines a light on the crucial importance of continued funding for research to help discover new therapies to treat the disease and advance patient care.”
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When the disease is caught at a local (early) stage, the five-year survival rate is 95%, the report stated.
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A new study suggests that middle-aged men may be more vulnerable to faster biological aging, potentially linked to exposure to “forever chemicals.”
The research, published in the journal Frontiers in Aging, examined how perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, more commonly known as PFAS, could impact aging at the cellular level.
PFAS are synthetic chemicals commonly used in nonstick cookware, food packaging, water-resistant fabrics and other consumer products, the study noted.
Their chemical structure makes them highly resistant to breaking down, allowing them to accumulate in water, soil and the human body.
Chinese researchers analyzed blood samples from 326 adults enrolled in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2000.
A new study suggests that middle-aged men could face accelerated biological aging at the cellular level due to exposure to PFAS. (iStock)
The researchers measured levels of 11 PFAS compounds in participants’ blood and used DNA-based “epigenetic clocks” — tools that analyze chemical changes to DNA to estimate biological age — to determine how quickly their bodies were aging at the cellular level, the study stated.
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Two compounds, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA), were detected in 95% of participants.
Higher concentrations of those chemicals were associated with faster biological aging in men of certain age groups, but not in women.
“People should not panic.”
The compounds most strongly linked to accelerated aging were not the PFAS chemicals that typically receive the most public attention, the researchers noted.
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“The associations were strongest in adults aged 50 to 64, particularly in men,” Dr. Xiangwei Li, professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and the study’s corresponding author, told Fox News Digital.
“While this does not establish that PFAS cause aging, it suggests that these widely present ‘forever chemicals’ may be linked to molecular changes related to long-term health and aging.”
The study found that two of the compounds were detected in 95% of participants, and higher levels were linked to faster biological aging in men ages 50–64. (iStock)
Midlife may represent a more sensitive biological period, when the body becomes more vulnerable to age-related stressors, according to the researchers.
Lifestyle factors, such as smoking, may influence biological aging markers, potentially increasing vulnerability to environmental pollutants.
While Li said “people should not panic,” she does recommend looking for reasonable ways to reduce exposure.
That might mean checking local drinking water reports, using certified water filters designed to reduce PFAS, and limiting the use of stain- or grease-resistant products when alternatives are available.
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Meaningful reductions in PFAS exposure will likely depend on broader regulatory action and environmental cleanup efforts, Li added.
The researchers noted that midlife could be a particularly sensitive stage, when the body is more susceptible to stressors associated with aging. (iStock)
Study limitations
The researchers outlined several important limitations of the research, including that the findings show an association, but do not prove that PFAS directly causes accelerated aging.
“The study is cross-sectional, meaning exposure and aging markers were measured at the same time, so we cannot determine causality,” Li told Fox News Digital.
The study was also relatively small, limited to 326 adults age 50 or older, which means the findings may not apply to younger people or broader populations.
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Researchers measured PFAS levels using data collected between 1999 and 2000, and today’s exposure patterns may differ.
Li added that while PFAS is known to persist in the environment and the body, these results should be validated through larger, more recent studies that follow participants over time.
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