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 .
Observed affect in nursing home residents with Alzheimer's disease.
A method for assessing affect states among older people with Alzheimer 's disease was developed for use in a study design ed to evaluate a special care unit for such residents of a nursing home . The 6-item  Philadelphia Geriatric Center Affect Rating Scale was design ed for the use of research and other staff in assessing positive affect ( pleasure , interest , contentment ) and negative affect ( sadness , worry/anxiety , and anger ) by direct observation of facial expression , body movement , and other cues that do not depend on self-report , among 253 demented and 43 nondemented residents . Each affect scale was highly reliable , expressed in estimated portions of a 10-minute observation period when the affect expression occurred . Validity estimates were affirmative in showing discriminant correlations between the positive states and various independent measures of social and other outwardly engaged behavior and between negative states and other measures of depression , anger , anxiety , and withdrawal . Limited support for the two-factor dimensionality of the affect ratings was obtained , although positive and negative affect were correlated , rather than independent . Some hope is offered that the preference and aversions of Alzheimer patients may be better understood by observations of their emotional behaviors and that such methods may lead to a better ability to judge institutional quality
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 .