Cannabis for Dementia: What You Need to Know

For those who have witnessed loved ones succumbing to Dementia, you already know how painful the experience is. Now, for those who may not be aware of this condition, we shall have a brief introduction. First of all, understand that Dementia is not a particular disease. Instead, it is a general term used to describe a group of symptoms most associated with memory loss. The condition affects other thinking skills to the point of reducing one’s ability to perform day to day activities. Communication and language, the ability to be attentive as well as visual perception are some of the skills that may be affected.

According to the World Health Organization, Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent form of Dementia. About  47.5 million people in the world have Dementia.

The benefits of Cannabis cannot be understated. The numerous benefits of Cannabis have prompted its legalization in most states across the world. Cannabis has two major derivatives, which are THC and CBD. THC is the component responsible for the psychoactive effects of being high. CBD, on the other hand, is non-psychoactive. Products containing CBD are mostly legal, and you can purchase them online or on the high street. Products with more than 0.2% THC are not legally available within the UK. There are numerous ways to consume Cannabis, depending on your preference. While some deciding to smoke it traditionally, others prefer modes such as vaping and using CBD oil products. Vaping means inhaling an exhaling a CBD vape e-liquid by use of a device such as a vape pen.

Here’s what you need to know about Dementia and Cannabis

To date, there are no clinical trials on humans to support that Cannabis or CBD can help prevent or treat Dementia. However, studies carried out suggest that Cannabis is useful in the management of symptoms associated with Dementia, such as agitation. Agitation is a typical behavior change in people with Dementia. It is common to note behavior such as yelling or violence in people with Dementia.

Whereas there are many prescriptions to treat agitation, most come with harmful side effects. Some antipsychotic and antidepressant medications bear some life-threatening risks. The food and Administration (FDA) recently highlighted the side effects of sleep mediations, such as Sonata and Lunesta mainly used for dementia patients.

On the other hand, cannabinoids interact differently with the body. This means they could be a safer and more effective means to handle the same. According to a study carried out in 2015, the administration of Nabilone, which is a synthetic cannabinoid, significantly reduces agitation. There was also an improvement in the overall behavioral symptoms.

Cannabis is effective in regaining weight loss due to Alzheimer’s disease

Study shows that Cannabis leads to appetite improvement. This is because of constant hunger pangs, which are commonly known as the munchies. THC stimulates ghrelin which is a hormone produced in the stomach. Ghrelin is also known as the hunger hormone because it triggers appetite, thereby increasing food intake. THC also affects the olfactory bulb located in the brain and which affects how food smells and tastes. This is prudent in that even though those veggies that may not necessarily be your first pick start enticing you with their taste, thus better intake.

Cannabis helps with memory improvement

This is following a study conducted on mice with symptoms of Alzheimer’s condition. After the introduction of a synthetic form of THC in six weeks, the memories of those mice were at par with mice without Alzheimer’s.

The mice given the THC had a less neuronal loss. They also had 20 % fewer beta-amyloid plaques, which is the protein that accumulates in the brain of an Alzheimer’s patient. These proteins are toxic to brain cells and neurons.

Will Cannabis interact with other drugs?

A lot of risks may arise with using multiple medications simultaneously, especially for older patients. However, the only drug interactions reported to interact with cannabidiol are an anti-epileptic drug (AEDs). Therefore, there are no alarming drug-drug interactions. But still, there is a need to consult your doctor before embarking on the journey of using Cannabis. Also, consult a cannabis physician for guidance on the dose and the necessary product to use. Once you have assurance and a go-ahead from your doctor, you can purchase Sativa strain and begin the journey towards managing Dementia.

Cannabis For Dementia Conclusion

Cannabis has revolutionized the medical field; diseases that used to threaten human beings are nowadays managed by the use of CBD. However, it is essential to have more human studies on Cannabis as a therapy for Alzheimer’s disease and other diseases. Should you consider Cannabis to manage Alzheimer’s disease in a loved one, ensure that marijuana is legal within your state to avoid landing on the wrong side of the law.