When calm returns: THC and CBD oil surprises in dementia study
Phase II clinical trial presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference showed that an oral pharmaceutical formulation with THC and CBD reduced agitation in people with advanced dementia and demonstrated a safety profile similar to placebo
Among the most challenging symptoms of advanced dementia, agitation often impacts not only the quality of life of patients, but also the routine of family members and caregivers. A study presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in London brought new data on the use of a pharmaceutical formulation of THC and CBD, which demonstrated a significant reduction in these episodes during the first weeks of treatment.
According to the website Newsweed, the phase II clinical trial LiBBY (Life's end Benefits of cannaBidiol and tetrahYdrocannabinol) followed 120 people with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia across ten medical centers in the United States.
Rapid and sustained improvement throughout the study
Participants received a pharmaceutical-grade oral oil containing THC and CBD or a placebo for 12 weeks, in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
According to Newsweed, treated patients showed a significant reduction in agitation as early as the first two weeks. Behavioral improvement was observed in 83.9% of participants who received the treatment, compared to 30.5% in the placebo group. By the end of follow-up, rates reached 87.2% among treated patients and 23.6% among those who received placebo.
"These clinical trial results are extremely impressive and revealed a level of response never seen before in dementia-related clinical trials. It is rare to see around 90% of patients in a trial responding positively to a new medication," stated co-principal investigator Jacobo Mintzer, in a statement cited by the original outlet.
Pharmaceutical formulation does not equal commercial products
Researchers emphasize that the formulation used in the study was developed specifically for clinical research and should not be compared to THC or CBD products available on the market.
"It should not be assumed that products available in dispensaries or online are equivalent to what was studied in this trial," stated researcher Brigid Reynolds. According to her, the composition, quality, and dosage of commercialized products can vary significantly.
The study also recorded similar rates of adverse events between the treated and placebo groups, mainly infections and gastrointestinal disorders.
Results are still considered preliminary
According to Newsweed, the data was initially reported by MedicalXpress and is still awaiting publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. Despite this, the results reinforce the potential of pharmaceutical formulations based on THC and CBD as an alternative for managing agitation in people with advanced dementia, a topic that remains one of the main challenges in caring for these patients.
Source: Newsweed