Trial of THC-CBD Oil for Dementia Agitation Shows Improvement but Placebo Also Reduced Symptoms

The Independent reported that a clinical trial found an oral combination of purified tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol reduced agitation in patients with late-stage dementia. Nearly 90 percent of the 120 participants with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias showed overall improvement after 12 weeks.

Researchers presented the LiBBY trial findings at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference.

Jacobo Mintzer of the University of South Carolina and Brigid Reynolds of Georgetown University reported the results from the study conducted at ten medical centers with home visits. Participants, who were in hospices or eligible for hospice care, were randomly assigned to receive either the THC-CBD oil suspension or a placebo. Caregivers rated agitation on a 7-point scale.

The medication group recorded a 6.27-point reduction in mean agitation scores after two weeks. The placebo group showed a sustained reduction in agitation after 12 weeks. Mintzer stated that the results were extremely impressive and showed a level of response not seen before in clinical trials related to dementia.

Reynolds stated that agitation affects many people with late-stage dementia, causing restlessness, aggression and emotional distress that can profoundly impact patients and their caregivers. She added that the medication used in the research was carefully formulated, manufactured and administered under close medical supervision, and that over-the-counter products may vary widely in composition and quality.

The study has not yet been peer reviewed or published.