Acute THC effects in older adults
Official title: Acute Effects of THC in Older Adult
Run by Yale University · NCT06948136 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will see if single low or medium doses of THC cause stronger short-term effects on thinking, mood, and heart function in older adults compared with younger adults.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 1 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 21 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Yale University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (West Haven, Connecticut) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | June 6, 2025 |
| Main results expected | November 1, 2027 |
| Study ends | November 1, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | October 9, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06948136 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults over 21 with concerns about age-related cognitive decline who can give informed consent, have at least a high-school education, are English-speaking, and do not have unstable medical, neurological, or psychiatric conditions.
✕Probably not a fit
People with unstable or serious medical, neurological, or psychiatric conditions, pregnant or nursing individuals, or those seeking direct therapeutic improvement rather than safety data are unlikely to receive personal benefit from participation.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This Phase 1 interventional study gives single low and medium doses of delta-9-THC and placebo to adults over 21 and measures immediate cognitive (memory, attention, psychomotor), subjective (anxiety, rewarding effects), and cardiovascular (heart rate, blood pressure) responses. The study also records electrophysiological measures such as auditory steady-state response, P300 oddball, and resting cortical activity to track age-related differences in information processing. Blood sampling will be used to compare THC metabolism across age groups. Participants must be English-speaking, have at least a high-school education, be able to give informed consent, and have no unstable medical, neurological, or psychiatric conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the results could clarify age-related risks from acute THC exposure and help shape safer dosing and use recommendations for older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Acute THC effects on cognition, mood, and cardiovascular measures have been demonstrated in younger adult studies, but age-comparative and electrophysiological data in older adults are limited, making this approach partly validated but relatively novel for the target population.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
* Ability to provide informed consent * No history (current or past) of unstable or serious medical, neurological or psychiatric conditions. * High school education or greater * No positive pregnancy test and/or lactation/ planning to nurse while in this study * English speaking
Where it's running
-
VA Connecticut Healthcare System
West Haven, Connecticut, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Deepak C D'Souza, MD — Yale University School of Medicine; VA Connecticut Healthcare System
- Study coordinator: Khaled Draghmeh, MD
- Email: khaled.draghmeh@yale.edu
- Phone: 203-932-5711
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.