Posts

The Effect of Cannabidiol 3% on Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Dementia – Six-Month Follow-Up

To investigate the beneficial outcomes of giving cannabidiol (CBD) 3% over a six-month period in the BPSD, the management of which is a crucial issue for everyday clinical praxis and to compare the progress in BPSD of patients who receive Cannabidiol 3% with those who follow usual medical treatment (UMT) in everyday clinical praxis. A total of 20 PwD with severe BPSD were recruited from the database of Alzheimer Hellas with NPI score >30. Ten of them were assigned to UMT, while ten were assigned to a six-month treatment with CBD drops. The follow-up assessment was performed with NPI, both clinically and by structured telephone interview.

Cannabinoids for behavioral symptoms in severe dementia: Safety and feasibility in a long-term pilot observational study in nineteen patients

The management of behavioral symptoms and rigidity in patients with dementia constitutes a significant challenge. Short-term studies suggest an interest in the use of medical cannabis, but long-term data are lacking. The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility and long-term safety of administering tetrahydrocannabinol/cannabidiol (THC/CBD) treatment as an additional drug to a poly medicated population with severe dementia, evaluate clinical improvements, and collect information on the pharmacokinetics of cannabinoids and possible drug–drug interactions.

Possible therapeutic applications of cannabis in the neuropsychopharmacology field.

Authors: Javier Fernández-Ruiz, Ismael Galve-Roperh, Onintza Sagredo, Manuel Guzmán
European Neuropsychopharmacology, 10 February 2020

Cannabis use induces a plethora of actions on the CNS via its active chemical ingredients, the so-called phytocannabinoids. These compounds have been frequently associated with the intoxicating properties of cannabis preparations. However, not all phytocannabinoids are psychot…

Cannabis in palliative care: current challenges and practical recommendations

Authors: Claude Cyr, Maria Fernanda Arboleda, Sunil Kumar Aggarwal, Lynda G. Balneaves, Paul Daeninck, Andrée Néron, Erin Prosk, Antonio Vigano
Annals of Palliative Medicine, October 2018

Pain and symptom control challenges are common in palliative care, and the search for other therapeutic strategies is ongoing. Unfortunately, patients and their caregivers are receiving little information or support from healthcare providers regarding the increasingly popular…

Innovative Therapeutic Potential of Cannabinoid Receptors as Targets in Alzheimer’s Disease and Less Well-Known Diseases

Authors: Juan A. Paez, Nuria E. Campillo
Current Medicinal Chemistry, 25 February 2018

The discovery of cannabinoid receptors at the beginning of the 1990s, CB1 being cloned in 1990 and CB2 cloned in 1993, and the availability of selective and potent cannabimimetics could only be justified by the existence of endogenous ligands that are capable of binding to the…

A chronic low dose of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) restores cognitive function in old mice

Authors: Andras Bilkei-Gorzo, Onder Albayram, Astrid Draffehn, Kerstin Michel, Anastasia Piyanova, Hannah Oppenheimer, Mona Dvir-Ginzberg, Ildiko Rácz, Thomas Ulas, Sophie Imbeault, Itai Bab, Joachim L Schultze, Andreas Zimmer
Nature Medicine, 8 May 2017

The balance between detrimental, pro-aging, often stochastic processes and counteracting homeostatic mechanisms largely determines the progression of aging. There is substantial evidence suggesting that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is part of the latter system because it m…

An update on the advancements in the treatment of agitation in Alzheimer’s disease

Authors: Assaf Shelef, Yoram Barak, Uri Berger, Diana Paleacu, Shelly Tadger, Igor Plopsky, Yehuda Baruch
Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy, April 2017

Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are associated with significant negative outcomes for patients and their caregivers. Agitation, one of the most distressing NPS, lacks safe and effective long term interventions. Nonpharmacological interventions are s…

In vivo Evidence for Therapeutic Properties of Cannabidiol (CBD) for Alzheimer’s Disease

Authors: Georgia Watt, Tim Karl
Frontiers in Pharmacology, 3 February 2017

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disease that is affecting an increasing number of people. It is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-β and tau hyperphosphorylation as well as neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. Current AD treatments do…

Natural Phytochemicals in the Treatment and Prevention of Dementia: An Overview.

Authors: Rosaliana Libro, Sabrina Giacoppo, Thangavelu Soundara Rajan, Placido Bramanti, Emanuela Mazzon
Molecules, 21 April 2016

The word dementia describes a class of heterogeneous diseases which etiopathogenetic mechanisms are not well understood. There are different types of dementia, among which, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), vascular dementia (VaD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and frontotemporal de…

Safety and Efficacy of Medical Cannabis Oil for Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia: An-Open Label, Add-On, Pilot Study

Authors: Assaf Shelef, Yoram Barak, Uri Berger, Diana Paleacu, Shelly Tadger, Igor Plopsky, Yehuda Baruch
Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 27 February 2016

BACKGROUND: Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). OBJECTIVE: To measure efficacy and safety of medical cannabis oil (MCO) containing THC as an add-on to pharmacotherapy, in relieving behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia…

Cannabinoids in late‐onset Alzheimer’s disease

Authors: AIA Ahmed, MA van der Marck, GAH van den Elsen, MGM Olde Rikkert
Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 8 March 2015

Given the lack of effective treatments for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD) and the substantial burden on patients, families, health care systems, and economies, finding an effective therapy is one of the highest medical priorities. The past few years have seen a growing…

The potential therapeutic effects of THC on Alzheimer’s disease

Authors: Chuanhai Cao, Yaqiong Li, Hui Liu, Ge Bai, Jonathan Mayl, Xiaoyang Lin, Kyle Sutherland, Neel Nabar, Jianfeng Cai
Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 16 September 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential therapeutic qualities of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) with respect to slowing or halting the hallmark characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease. N2a-variant amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP) cells were incubated with TH…