Cannabinoids for Behavioral Symptoms in Dementia: An Overview

Article Article scientifique Revue de la littérature Cannabinoids for Behavioral Symptoms in Dementia: An Overview eng 2024-03-06 2024-05 author Broers Barbara Geneva University Hospitals, Primary Care Division, Geneva, Switzerland. 28005 Structure enseignement (ENSI) author Bianchi Federica Geneva University Hospitals, Palliative Care Division, Geneva, Switzerland. 950632 160-168 10.1055/a-2262-7837 38447959 0176-3679 https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/a-2262-7837 Dementia, with loss of memory, cognitive abilities, and independent daily functioning, is increasing worldwide, related to an aging population. Currently, there is no curative treatment for dementia. Treatment of the frequently occurring behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) is partially effective and associated with significant side effects. Cannabinoids are lipophilic molecules acting on the CB1 end CB2 receptors, essential for main biological processes such as sleep, appetite, memory, and pain. Cannabinoids might have a positive impact on amyloid formation in Alzheimer's disease, the main form of dementia, and on BPSD symptoms. Most knowledge currently concerns delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). In the context of dementia and BPSD, THC might be beneficial for associated spasticity and possible pain or lack of appetite and CBD probably works better on sleep, agitation, and anxiety. This overview of prospective clinical studies and randomized clinical trials, published between 2005 and April 2023, using cannabinoids for BPSD suggests that older studies using low-dose oral synthetic THC showed no positive results. Still, more recent studies using THC/CBD-based oral medication at higher doses show promising results and are feasible and safe in this elderly polymedicated population. Several RCTs are ongoing and planned worldwide, and we hope other trials will follow to establish clinical efficiency and optimal dosing, as well as other outcomes such as deprescribing other medications and facilitation of care. We suggest that researchers also address the more sociological aspects of prescribing cannabinoids for dementia and BPSD in their specific context. Behavioral Symptoms / drug therapy Cannabidiol / therapeutic use Cannabinoids / therapeutic use Dementia / drug therapy Dronabinol / therapeutic use Humans Cannabinoids Cannabidiol Dronabinol Dewey 618.97 65 Département de réadaptation et gériatrie 22B false 436 Médecine palliative 709 100 Médecine de l'addiction 129 Pharmacopsychiatry 57 03 f156dfb2-485c-440a-9432-12398d8598dc Article (Published version) Public Article_scientifique_from_crossref.pdf 260707 application/pdf 39aa08d9fd1d441a1215887d462f262d45477bc0502e97063be40fab8372727a openAccess Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine clinique / Département de réadaptation et gériatrie

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Cannabinoids for Behavioral Symptoms in Dementia: An Overview	Pharmacopsychiatry			2024	23	34

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