This review finds no evidence that cannabinoids are effective in the improvement of disturbed behaviour in dementia or in the treatment of other symptoms of dementia .
BACKGROUND Following the discovery of an endogenous cannabinoid system and the identification of specific cannabinoid receptors in the central nervous system , much work has been done to investigate the main effects of these compounds .
There is increasing evidence that the cannabinoid system may regulate neurodegenerative processes such as excessive glutamate production , oxidative stress and neuroinflammation .
Neurodegeneration is a feature common to the various types of dementia and this has led to interest in whether cannabinoids may be clinical ly useful in the treatment of people with dementia .
Recent studies have also shown that cannabinoids may have more specific effects in interrupting the pathological process in Alzheimer 's disease .
OBJECTIVES To determine from available research whether cannabinoids are clinical ly effective in the treatment of dementia .
Effects of dronabinol on anorexia and disturbed behavior in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
A placebo-controlled crossover design , with each treatment period lasting 6 weeks , was used to investigate effects of dronabinol in 15 patients with a diagnosis of probable Alzhemer 's disease who were refusing food . Eleven patients completed both study periods ; one patient who died of a heart attack 2 weeks before the end of the study was also included in the analysis . The study was terminated in 3 patients : one developed a gr and mal seizure and 2 developed serious intercurrent infections . Body weight of study subjects increased more during the dronabinol treatment than during the placebo periods . Dronabinol treatment decreased severity of disturbed behavior and this effect persisted during the placebo period in patients who received dronabinol first . Adverse reactions observed more commonly during the dronabinol treatment than during placebo periods included euphoria , somnolence and tiredness , but did not require discontinuation of therapy . These results indicate that dronabinol is a promising novel therapeutic agent which may be useful not only for treatment of anorexia but also to improve disturbed behavior in patients with Alzheimer 's disease
This review finds no evidence that cannabinoids are effective in the improvement of disturbed behaviour in dementia or in the treatment of other symptoms of dementia .
BACKGROUND Following the discovery of an endogenous cannabinoid system and the identification of specific cannabinoid receptors in the central nervous system , much work has been done to investigate the main effects of these compounds .
There is increasing evidence that the cannabinoid system may regulate neurodegenerative processes such as excessive glutamate production , oxidative stress and neuroinflammation .
Neurodegeneration is a feature common to the various types of dementia and this has led to interest in whether cannabinoids may be clinical ly useful in the treatment of people with dementia .
Recent studies have also shown that cannabinoids may have more specific effects in interrupting the pathological process in Alzheimer 's disease .
OBJECTIVES To determine from available research whether cannabinoids are clinical ly effective in the treatment of dementia .