Researcher Juliana Mineu, who is pursuing a PhD in Clinical Care in Nursing and Health at the State University of Ceará (Uece), shared her personal experience during the III Seminar on the use of Cannabidiol in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Diagnosed with ASD, she reported the positive effects of medical cannabis treatment.

“I have been using cannabidiol for about a year and a half and I see its benefits. At the seminar, I was able to learn more about CBD research, which can help me in this journey, throughout my personal and professional life,” said Juliana.

With the theme "Therapeutic Innovations and Scientific Evidence", the event was held by Uece on July 31 and brought together students, professors, researchers, healthcare professionals, association representatives, and family members of individuals with ASD. The seminar provided a space for dialogue on the advances and challenges in the therapeutic use of cannabidiol in the treatment of autism.

The presentations were conducted by researchers affiliated with the extension projects Connection TEA and UniTEA, the Study Group on Neuroinflammation and Neurotoxicology (Genit), and the Laboratory of Neuroscience and Translational Innovation (Lanit), coordinated by Professor Gislei Aragão. After the presentations, the audience was able to clarify doubts with the university experts.

Knowledge exchange

Clinical neuropsychopedagogue Flaviana Bezerra also participated in the event and emphasized the relevance of the content presented for professionals in the field:

“I seek more knowledge here to guide my patients safely. It is very important for us to have this knowledge to understand that not everyone can use medical cannabis,” she explained.

For Karine, a mother of a child with ASD, the seminar was an opportunity to deepen her understanding of the treatment. “I came here for more information, even to have better support in understanding how the medication works. It is important for the community to know the work involved in caring for an autistic child, and events like this help us face this reality with more preparation.”

The event in Fortaleza marked the beginning of a series of meetings that will take place throughout August in cities like Redenção and Crateús, aiming to expand the discussion on the use of cannabidiol in the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Uece gathers evidence on the use of cannabidiol in children and adolescents

Uece also released the results of a scientific study that investigated the use of cannabidiol in children and adolescents with ASD. The study, which will be submitted to scientific journals later this year, was coordinated by Professor Gislei Aragão.

Initially, the team aimed to conduct a systematic review with meta-analysis, but the methodological diversity of the studies analyzed made this approach impossible. Nevertheless, the data indicate that CBD may have positive effects on symptoms such as agitation, disruptive behaviors, and repetitive patterns. The reported improvements were mainly observed by patients' family members.

With information from Uece