Medical cannabis use is increasing in Australia and other jurisdictions, yet little is known about the effects of medical cannabis on cognitive function. Findings from studies of non-medical (‘recreational’) cannabis may not be applicable to patients using prescribed medical cannabis to manage a health condition.
This work is a literature review, presenting the current state of the use of cannabinoids on neurodegenerative diseases. The emphasis is on Parkinson’s (PD) and Alzheimer’s (AD) diseases, the two most prevalent neurological diseases. The review goes from Cannabis sativa and its hundreds of bioactive compounds to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and mainly cannabidiol (CBD) and their interactions with the endocannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2).
Evidence suggests cannabidiol (CBD) has anxiolytic properties, indicating potential for novel treatment strategies. However, few clinical trials of CBD-based products have been conducted, and none thus far have examined the impact of these products on cognition.
Cannabis use has increased dramatically across the country; however, few studies have assessed the long-term impact of medical cannabis (MC) use on cognition. Studies examining recreational cannabis users generally report cognitive decrements, particularly in those with adolescent onset. As MC patients differ from recreational consumers in motives for use, product selection, and age of onset, we assessed cognitive and clinical measures in well-characterized MC patients over 1 year. Based on previous findings, we hypothesized MC patients would not show decrements and might instead demonstrate improvements in executive function over time.
Authors: Sharon R Sznitman, Simon Vulfsons, David Meiri, Galit Weinstein Published in Drug and Alcohol Review September 2020 Abstract Introduction and aims: Cannabis exposure is becoming more common in older…
Author: Carmela V. San Luis, Christa O’Hana S. Nobleza, Shashank Shekhar, Rebecca Sugg, Darren J. Villareal, Tapan Mehta, Shreyas Gangadhara Published in Frontiers in Psychology June 2020 Abstract Objectives Studies that…
Author: Ciara A. Torres, Christopher Medina-Kirchner, Kate Y. O’Malley, and Carl L. Hart Published in Frontiers in Psychology May 2020 Abstract Background Despite limited data demonstrating pronounced negative effects of prenatal…
Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, March 2012
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Deficits in memory function are an incapacitating aspect of various psychiatric and neurological disorders. Animal studies have recently provided strong evidence for involvement of the endocannabinoid (eCB) system in memory function. Neuropsychological studies in humans have s…
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, July 2003
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The possible medicinal use of cannabinoids for chronic diseases emphasizes the need to understand the long-term effects of these compounds on the central nervous system. We provide a quantitative synthesis of empirical research pertaining to the non-acute (residual) effects of…