Caring for Behavioral Symptoms of Dementia (CBD): A New Investigation into Cannabidiol for the Treatment of Anxiety and Agitation in Alzheimer's Dementia

McManus, Kaitlin; Ash, Eleanor; Harper, David G.; Smith, Rosemary T.; Gruber, Staci A.; Forester, Brent P.

doi:10.1016/j.jagp.2021.01.107

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…Of the eight planned studies, one [18] is an open-label small trial (12 persons) using CBD-rich oil, but no other details were available. Of the seven RCTs, one [19] concerns early-stage dementia, proposing high-dose CBD (300 mg/day) for 12 weeks and investigating neuroanatomical and neuroendocrine changes.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cannabinoids for Behavioral Symptoms in Dementia: An Overview

Broers,

Bianchi

2024

Pharmacopsychiatry

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Dementia, with loss of memory, cognitive abilities, and independent daily functioning, is increasing worldwide, related to an aging population. Currently, there is no curative treatment for dementia. Treatment of the frequently occurring behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) is partially effective and associated with significant side effects. Cannabinoids are lipophilic molecules acting on the CB1 end CB2 receptors, essential for main biological processes such as sleep, appetite, memory, and pain. Cannabinoids might have a positive impact on amyloid formation in Alzheimer’s disease, the main form of dementia, and on BPSD symptoms. Most knowledge currently concerns delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). In the context of dementia and BPSD, THC might be beneficial for associated spasticity and possible pain or lack of appetite and CBD probably works better on sleep, agitation, and anxiety. This overview of prospective clinical studies and randomized clinical trials, published between 2005 and April 2023, using cannabinoids for BPSD suggests that older studies using low-dose oral synthetic THC showed no positive results. Still, more recent studies using THC/CBD-based oral medication at higher doses show promising results and are feasible and safe in this elderly polymedicated population. Several RCTs are ongoing and planned worldwide, and we hope other trials will follow to establish clinical efficiency and optimal dosing, as well as other outcomes such as deprescribing other medications and facilitation of care. We suggest that researchers also address the more sociological aspects of prescribing cannabinoids for dementia and BPSD in their specific context.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cannabinoids for Behavioral Symptoms in Dementia: An Overview

Broers,

Bianchi

2024

Pharmacopsychiatry

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A micronutrient mixture with collagen peptides, probiotics, cannabidiol, and diet may reduce aging, and development and progression of age-related alzheimer’s disease, and improve its treatment

Prasad¹

2023

Mechanisms of Ageing and Development

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Sativex® for the treatment of Agitation & Aggression in Alzheimer’s Dementia in UK nursing homes (STAND): Protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial

Albertyn,

Johar,

Creese

et al. 2023

healthopenres

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Background: People living with dementia often experience a myriad of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Agitation is highly common within BPSD, negatively impacting their health, accelerating dementia progression, and is distressing both to patients and those caring for them. It also costs society a great deal, with increased hospitalisations, cost of care and earlier institutionalisation. Unfortunately, current treatments for these symptoms do not work very well and have a lot of unwanted side-effects. Recently, cannabinoid-based medicines have emerged as potentially safer alternative candidates for agitation in dementia. However, there is little systematic and robust evidence to support these encouraging early reports. Therefore, we specifically hope to investigate Sativex®, administered as an oral-spray, containing 50% delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and 50% cannabidiol (CBD) for agitation in dementia. Methods: STAND is a mixed-methods, randomised, double-blind, parallel group, placebo-controlled feasibility clinical trial, recruiting 60 people living with Alzheimer’s disease displaying behavioural symptoms from UK nursing homes. Conclusions: We aim to assess the safety, feasibility and acceptability of Sativex® within a nursing home context, and estimate its efficacy for agitation in Alzheimer’s disease. Findings will be used to inform a potential larger phase III confirmatory effectiveness trial. ISRCTN registry: 97163562.

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Caring for Behavioral Symptoms of Dementia (CBD): A New Investigation into Cannabidiol for the Treatment of Anxiety and Agitation in Alzheimer's Dementia

Cited by 3 publications

References 0 publications

Cannabinoids for Behavioral Symptoms in Dementia: An Overview

Cannabinoids for Behavioral Symptoms in Dementia: An Overview

A micronutrient mixture with collagen peptides, probiotics, cannabidiol, and diet may reduce aging, and development and progression of age-related alzheimer’s disease, and improve its treatment

Sativex® for the treatment of Agitation & Aggression in Alzheimer’s Dementia in UK nursing homes (STAND): Protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial

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