Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract:  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 (BPSD). Methods: Eleven AD patients were recruited to an open label, 4 weeks, prospective trial. Results: Ten patients completed the trial. Significant reduction in CGI severity score (6.5 to 5.7; p <  0.01) and NPI score were recorded (44.4 to 12.8; p <  0.01). NPI domains of significant decrease were: Delusions, agitation/aggression, irritability, apathy, sleep and caregiver distress. Conclusion: Adding...

Abstract The discovery of endocannabinoid’s role within the central nervous system and its potential therapeutic benefits have brought forth rising interest in the use of cannabis for medical purposes. The present review aimed to synthesize and evaluate the available evidences on the efficacy of cannabis and its derivatives for psychiatric, neurodegenerative and movement disorders. A systematic search of randomized controlled trials of cannabis and its derivatives were conducted via databases (PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials). A total of 24 reports that evaluated the use of medical cannabis for Alzheimer’s disease, anorexia nervosa, anxiety, dementia, dystonia, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease,...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Aim: Currently, there exist no curative treatments for neurodegenerative disorders. Recently, there has been a resurgence of interest in the use of medicinal cannabis to improve neurological conditions. Methods: A 12-month, open label, dose-finding, safety and efficacy study was conducted including 48 subjects with a variety of neurodegenerative disorders. Results: In our participants, we observed a reduction in pain, improved sleep, enhanced well-being and less agitation. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that medicinal cannabis might be useful in patients with neurodegenerative disorders in controlling pain, enhancing sleep, reducing difficult behaviors, controlling unusual and complex symptoms when other treatments have failed - this offers...

Abstract With the improvement in modern medicine, the world’s human and feline (Felis catus, the domestic cat) population is aging. As the population grows older, there is an increase of age-related diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease in humans and feline cognitive dysfunction in felines, which shares many similarities with Alzheimer’s disease. They both result in cognitive decline and lack effective treatments. In light of their pathological similarities, both occur at old age, and as domestic cats share the human environment and risk factors (cats are considered an indicator to the effect of environmental contaminants on humans as they share exposures and diseases), cats have...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by progressive cognitive decline and pathologically by the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau hyperphosphorylation causing neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation. Current AD treatments do not stop or reverse the disease progression, highlighting the need for more effective therapeutics. The phytocannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) has demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. Furthermore, chronic CBD treatment (20 mg/kg) reverses social and object recognition memory deficits in the AβPPxPS1 transgenic mouse model with only limited effects on AD-relevant brain pathology. Importantly, studies have indicated that CBD works in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, this study determined the chronic...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Introduction Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disease accounting for 60-80% of dementia cases worldwide. In the United States alone, 13.8 million Americans are predicted to develop AD by 2050. The neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) of dementia affect up to 97% of AD patients over the course of their disease. A common NPS is agitation, characterized by problem behaviors that include combativeness and restlessness. Agitation is commonly associated with greater caregiver burden, shorter time to institutionalization, and anxiety. Anxiety symptoms affect 25-70% of the dementia population, and this wide range speaks to the inability to...

Abstract Background Although agitation in Alzheimer’s Disease (Agit-AD) is a common and troubling neuropsychiatric syndrome, behavioral interventions lack consistent efficacy and there are no FDA-approved medications. Neurobiological mechanisms that contribute to Agit-AD include brain atrophy, degradation of neurotransmission, neuroinflammation, disrupted circadian rhythms, comorbidities and frailty. Agit-AD is a major source of disease progression, patient disability, financial burden, and caregiver stress. Dronabinol is synthetic tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, one of the predominant biochemical constituents of cannabis). Cannabinoids may improve Agit-AD by providing protection against neuroinflammation and excitotoxicity, regulating neurotransmitters, improving comorbidities, stabilizing circadian rhythms, and increasing cerebral blood flow. Method THC-AD is a three-week placebo-controlled, double-blind, RCT...

Abstract Cannabis has been used for both recreational and medicinal purposes for more than 4 millennia. Cannabis has been studied in various medical disorders including neurological disorders. There are well-known risks of long-term use of cannabis, including low motivation, lowered cognitive capabilities, and diminished IQ and brain mass. Cannabinoids are compounds in cannabis that are known to have therapeutic potential. The most abundant chemicals in cannabinoids are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol has psychotropic effects that limits its use as a pharmacotherapeutic agent. Cannabidiol is a nonpsychotropic chemical and therefore has become a compound of interest for clinical researchers to study its therapeutic potential. This...

Abstract Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, but there is still no available treatment. Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is emerging as a promising therapeutic agent. Using THC in conventional high doses may have deleterious effects. Therefore, we propose to use an ultra-low dose of THC (ULD-THC). We previously published that a single injection of ULD-THC ameliorated cognitive functioning in several models of brain injuries as well as in naturally aging mice. Here, 5xFAD AD model mice received a single treatment of ULD-THC (0.002 mg/kg) after disease onset and were examined in two separate experiments for cognitive functions, neurotropic, and inflammatory factors in...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Introduction Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease of aging (70%). Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in AD are a major cause of burden to patients, caregivers, and society and are near-universal at some point in the AD course (97%). One of the most troubling NPS is agitation (Agit-AD), typified by a variety of problem behaviors including combativeness, yelling, pacing, lack of cooperation with care, insomnia, and restlessness. Neurobiological mechanisms that contribute to Agit-AD include brain atrophy, degradation of neurotransmission, neuroinflammation, disrupted circadian rhythms, comorbidities, and frailty. There is a great need for better interventions that target Agit-AD, which is a major source...