CBD Reduces Plaque, Improves Cognitive Function in Model of Familial Alzheimer's

There is a dire need for novel therapies to improve outcomes for patients with Alzheimer’s Disease, which is considered one of the fastest-growing health threats of our time.

In a promising new study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, investigators reported that a two-week course of high dose CBD helped reduce plaque and improve cognitive function in an experimental model of early onset familial AD.

Familial disease is an inherited version of Alzheimer’s in which symptoms typically surface in the 30s and 40s and occurs in about 10-15% of patients.

Next steps include determining optimal doses and giving CBD earlier in the disease process. They also are exploring delivery systems including the use of an inhaler that should help deliver the CBD more directly to the brain.

See article below for more information. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210309192548.htm Citation for journal article, available here https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33612548/

Can CBD Help A Loved One With Dementia?

An estimated 50 million people around the world have been diagnosed with some form of dementia, and every year, there are approximately 10 million new cases. There is no cure, current treatment options are limited and it’s been described as a global health crisis requiring urgent action. Despite this, like so many issues affecting our seniors, it doesn’t get a lot of airtime.

Kudos to Amy Marturana Winderl and Health Central for this extremely informative article about how advances in research are showing cannabinoid medicine to be a safe and effective treatment option in the management of behavioural and psychological symptoms associated with dementia. I was really pleased to be a part of this story.

Every 65 seconds someone in the USA is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease - and after age 65, 1 in 5 women have a chance of developing the disease. This is a topic we should all care about.

Read the full article here.

Landmark Study Proves CBD Has No Impact on Driving

A landmark study published in the latest issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association has shown that CBD does not impair driving, while moderate amounts of THC (the main intoxicating component) produce mild driving impairment lasting up to four hours.

This is the first study to illustrate the lack of CBD effects on driving and to also provide a clear indication of the duration of THC impairment.

Why this is so important: “With cannabis laws changing globally, jurisdictions are grappling with the issue of cannabis-impaired driving. These results provide much needed insights into the magnitude and duration of impairment caused by different types of cannabis and can help to guide road-safety policy not just in Australia but around the world. These results should allow for evidence-based laws and regulation for people receiving medical cannabis,” said Dr. Thomas Arkell, lead author on the study.

The study was led by the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics at the University of Sydney (Australia). Summary is available here and the full study is available in the current issue of JAMA here.

The Effectiveness of Topical Cannabidiol (CBD) Oil in Symptomatic Relief of Peripheral Neuropathy

For patients suffering from peripheral neuropathy, symptom relief can be challenging with many treatments falling short. In a recent randomized, placebo-controlled trial investigating the efficacy of topically delivered CBD oil in the management of neuropathic chronic pain, researchers found “a statistically significant reduction in intense pain, sharp pain, and cold and itchy sensations in the CBD group when compared to the placebo group.” Additionally, no adverse events were reported in this study.

Read the full article here.

The dangers of unregulated CBD

You’ve heard me say it before and I will say it again: If you have a condition that could benefit from medical cannabis, please speak to your physician…and most importantly, stay away from illegal cannabis and unregulated CBD products.

In less than six years CBD has gone from virtually unknown, to part of the common dialogue heard every day.

In CNN’s latest special investigation, “Weed 5,” Dr. Sanjay Gupta said: "It is really discouraging to see the results of a recent study in the medical journal JAMA where researchers analyzed 84 CBD products from 31 companies and found 69% were mislabeled. Some of the products had no CBD at all, some had too much CBD, some too much THC."

"Other studies showed that some CBD products contained dangerous synthetics that have been responsible for outbreaks of illness all over the country."

This is just one of the many reasons it is essential that you do not self-medicate and why it is so important to see a licensed practitioner and obtain regulated products.

In Canada, we are fortunate that both the (legal) recreational and medical cannabis streams are tightly regulated to ensure that all products are safe and free from harmful substances. Despite this, there are still products that are sold out of local corner stores, gas stations and of course, the internet, that are not regulated. At best these are a waste of your money and couldn’t possibly offer any health benefit. At worse, they could be potentially harmful, especially if combined with other medications.

If you missed the CNN special on Sunday night, check out this very insightful article from Dr. Sanjay Gupta himself.

Research: CBD Treatment for Cannabis Users with Psychosis, Schizophrenia Bulletin (2018.44.1)

A major factor associated with poor prognostic outcome after a first psychotic break is cannabis misuse, which is prevalent in schizophrenia and particularly common in individuals with recent-onset psychosis. Behavioral interventions aimed at reducing cannabis use have been unsuccessful in this population. New research published in the Schizophrenia Bulletin, suggests that CBD may improve the disease trajectory of individuals with early psychosis and comorbid cannabis misuse in particular—a population with currently poor prognostic outcome and no specialized effective intervention. Read more.