Healthy Aging and the Future of Cannabis Research

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Healthy Aging and the Future of Cannabis Research

This course is part of Medical Cannabis: The Health Effects of THC and CBD Specialization

Instructor: Kent Hutchison

5,164 already enrolled

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4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

99 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

8 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

99 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

8 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Learn how cannabis may influence inflammation and other disorders through its effects on inflammation.
Learn how cannabis may influence exercise performance and recovery.
Learn how cannabis may influence the aging process.
Learn about the future of cannabis research.

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

1 assignment¹

AI Graded see disclaimer

Taught in English

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This course is part of the Medical Cannabis: The Health Effects of THC and CBD Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

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There are 4 modules in this course

This Healthy Aging and Future of Cannabis Research course is designed to have you think critically about the health effects of cannabis (i.e., marijuana) in the context of inflammation, exercise, and aging. You'll learn how inflammation and the microbiome may be related to the disorders discussed in class, and how cannabis may influence these disorders through modulating inflammation. We'll describe the relationship between the endocannabinoid system and exercise, and how cannabinoids may affect exercise performance and recovery. You'll learn how to identify key features of aging and how cannabinoids may influence the aging process. Obtaining this knowledge will be helpful in terms of informing public policy, public health, and personal decisions regarding the use of cannabis products.

In this module, we will discuss how our gut microbiome and endocannabinoid system influences inflammatory disease states. We will also discuss how the gut and brain communicate and regulate inflammatory states through what is known as the "gut-brain axis."

What's included

5 videos7 readings1 assignment

5 videos Total 31 minutes

Introduction to Module 2 minutes
Lecture - Overview of Inflammation and the Microbiota Gut Brain Axis 7 minutes
Lecture - Chronic Inflammation and Disease States 7 minutes
Lecture - Cannabinoids and Inflammation 7 minutes
Lecture - Cannabis and Inflammatory Disease States 8 minutes

7 readings Total 61 minutes

Course Updates and Accessibility Support 1 minute
Lecture PDF 10 minutes
Of Microbes and Minds (Calvani, 2018) 10 minutes
Lecture PDF 10 minutes
Lecture PDF 10 minutes
Lecture PDF 10 minutes
Chronic Inflammation & Age-Associated Diseases (Franceshchi, 2014) 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 10 minutes

Quiz #12 10 minutes

In this module, we will discuss the role of endocannabinoids in exercise, and how cannabis may impact exercise. We will also discuss the importance of exercise recovery, and how cannabis may impact recovery.

What's included

5 videos5 readings

5 videos Total 39 minutes

Introduction to Module 4 minutes
Lecture - Endocannabinoids and Exercise 10 minutes
Lecture - Effects of Cannabis on Performance 7 minutes
Lecture - Effect of Cannabinoids on Recovery 8 minutes
Lecture - Cannabis and Professional Sports 10 minutes

5 readings Total 52 minutes

Lecture PDF 12 minutes
Lecture PDF 10 minutes
Lecture PDF 10 minutes
Lecture PDF 10 minutes
Watch this video “I Smoked Two Blunts Before Every Game”: NFL Vets on Cannabis in Football 10 minutes

In this module, we will discuss the common challenges older adults face while aging such as pain and depression, as well as common treatments used for these conditions tailored to this population. We will also discuss the research on cannabis for these conditions, and discuss the specific risks that this population faces with regards to cannabis use.

What's included

5 videos4 readings1 peer review

5 videos Total 60 minutes

Introduction to Module 3 minutes
Lecture - Healthy Aging 15 minutes
Interview with Peter 18 minutes
Lecture - Older Adults and Cannabis 11 minutes
Lecture - The Bigger Picture 14 minutes

4 readings Total 40 minutes

Lecture PDF 10 minutes
Lecture PDF 10 minutes
Lecture PDF 10 minutes
Watch these videos 10 minutes

1 peer review Total 60 minutes

Infographic Assignment #4 60 minutes

In this module, we will do a quick overview of the main takeaways from this series of courses regarding the risks and benefits of cannabis use. We will discuss the controversies around using cannabis as a therapeutic and consider how cannabis could be used as an alternative medicine. We will discuss lingering questions and gaps in the literature and research that need to be filled. Lastly, we will discuss the Citizen's Science Initiative - a crowdsourcing data science project with the purpose of collecting much needed and relevant data on the health effects of cannabis for specific clinical populations.

What's included

4 videos3 readings1 discussion prompt

4 videos Total 44 minutes

Introduction to Module 5 minutes
Lecture - What have we learned? 13 minutes
Lecture - Should cannabis be viewed as "medicine"? 13 minutes
Lecture - Where do we go from here? 12 minutes

3 readings Total 30 minutes

Lecture PDF 10 minutes
Lecture PDF 10 minutes
Lecture PDF 10 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 30 minutes

Exercise #4 30 minutes

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Instructor

Instructor ratings

(32 ratings)

Kent Hutchison

University of Colorado Boulder

4 Courses 29,205 learners

Offered by

University of Colorado Boulder

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Reviewed on Apr 18, 2024

I can‘t finish the course. It stays at 98% In progress. I watched and read all the materials and did the exams. Pay to better IT.

Reviewed on Mar 11, 2023

Awesome course, greatly enjoyed all 4 of the cannabis units. Kent is an amazing Lecturer

Reviewed on Mar 9, 2025

Fantastic and life changing course! Thank you so much for presenting this.

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