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 .
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol for nighttime agitation in severe dementia
Rationale Nighttime agitation occurs frequently in patients with dementia and represents the number one burden on caregivers today . Current treatment options are few and limited due to substantial side effects . Objectives The aim of the study was to measure the effect of the cannabinoid dronabinol on nocturnal motor activity . Methods In an open-label pilot study , six consecutive patients in the late stages of dementia and suffering from circadian and behavioral disturbances — five patients with Alzheimer ’s disease and one patient with vascular dementia — were treated with 2.5 mg dronabinol daily for 2 weeks . Motor activity was measured objective ly using actigraphy . Results Compared to baseline , dronabinol led to a reduction in nocturnal motor activity ( P=0.028 ) . These findings were corroborated by improvements in Neuropsychiatric Inventory total score ( P=0.027 ) as well as in subscores for agitation , aberrant motor , and nighttime behaviors ( P<0.05 ) . No side effects were observed . Conclusions The study suggests that dronabinol was able to reduce nocturnal motor activity and agitation in severely demented patients . Thus , it appears that dronabinol may be a safe new treatment option for behavioral and circadian disturbances in dementia
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 .