Marijuana is a controversial topic in the medical community, with some well respected doctors advocating for its use and others concerned about its long term effects and addictive properties. As researchers continue to explore the drug as a potential treatment to chronic and terminal illnesses, some studies are focusing their efforts on the effects of medical marijuana on Alzheimer’s treatment and symptoms.
Learn more about what these studies have found and why more work needs to be done in evaluating it as a treatment for the disease.
Medical Marijuana Brings Controversy to the Medical Community
Medical marijuana or medical cannabis has been used throughout the world and for thousands of years to treat disease or alleviate symptoms from disease.
Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two medical marijuana medications in pill form, dronabinol and nabilone. These two drugs are being used to treat nausea caused by chemotherapy and increase the appetites of people with AIDS.
However, because of its addictive properties and unknown long term effects, its usage today is controversial in the medical community. While medical marijuana has been shown to reduce nausea in people undergoing chemotherapy and help people living with HIV/AIDS some medical professionals are wary of using it as a treatment method.
Several organizations, including the American Medical Association and the American Society of Addiction Medicine, have issued statements opposing its usage for medical treatment purposes.
Medical Marijuana and Alzheimer’s Prevention
A preclinical study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease found that very small doses of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a chemical found in marijuana, can slow the production of beta-amyloid proteins, thought to be a hallmark characteristic and key contributor to the progression of Alzheimer’s.
The study, published in August of 2014 is among others to support the effectiveness of THC in prohibiting the growth of toxic amyloid plagues.
Co-author of the study, Neel Nabar, cautions against drawing quick conclusions from their study saying:
“It’s important to keep in mind that just because a drug may be effective doesn’t mean it can be safely used by anyone. However, these findings may lead to the development of related compounds that are safe, legal, and useful in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.”
Using Medical Marijuana to Treat Dementia
While researchers have seen some success in using medical marijuana to fight the formation of beta amyloid plagues, a new study did not see a statistically significance difference when using medical marijuana to treat symptoms associated with dementia.
A research team from Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen, Netherlands investigated the effects of medical marijuana on symptoms of dementia including depression, anxiety, aggression, insomnia and hallucinations.
The team divided their 50 participants into two groups with one group receiving 1.5 mg of medical marijuana pills and the other receiving a placebo pill. Participants took the pill three times a day for three weeks. After comparing the behavioral symptoms of both groups, researchers found there was no difference in the two groups.
Lead author of the study, Geke A.H. van den Elsen, is not giving up hope of a treatment saying: “Since the side effects were mild to moderate, it’s possible that a higher dose could be tolerated and could possibly be beneficial. Future studies are needed to test this. A drug that can treat the behavioral symptoms of dementia is much needed, as about 62% of dementia patients in the general community and up to 80% of nursing home residents experience these symptoms.”
What are your thoughts on using medical marijuana to treat Alzheimer’s and dementia symptoms? Share them with us in the comments below.
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