Nowadays, more and more adults are turning to cannabis to address a range of health issues. These conditions range from dealing with depression and anxiety to reducing arthritic inflammation and relieving nerve pain. A growing number of individuals are also starting to use cannabis for dementia relief. Emerging evidence suggests that cannabis may help reduce certain dementia-related symptoms such as anxiety, aggression, and agitation. Certain studies have also revealed that it has the potential to help improve dementia patients’ mood, appetite, and sleep.
Seeking Natural Alternatives
Many dementia patients and their caregivers are looking for natural alternatives to their prescribed medicines which often cause unpleasant side effects or don’t work effectively. For many dementia patients, cannabis tinctures and gummies help them calm down and settle their nerves. Their thought process becomes clearer and they don’t get as frustrated and upset. However, it may not be the ideal choice for every patient. Cannabis use can cause drowsiness, which may increase the chances of older dementia patients falling and seriously hurting themselves. This feeling of drowsiness can also weaken certain Alzheimer’s patients’ cognitive functioning.
The majority of health practitioners who support the use of cannabis for dementia relief recommend it to individuals who are in the middle to late stages of the condition. More research is required to determine whether it can also be recommended to individuals in the early stages, as the potential risks and benefits must still be weighed and considered. Doctors typically prescribe cannabis treatments that combine both THC and CBD. THC helps stimulate appetite and relieve pain, however, it is also responsible for the “high” that many patients might find unbeneficial. CBD helps mitigate some of the unwanted side effects of THC, such as anxiety and paranoia.
Studies on the Effects of Cannabis on Dementia Patients
A recent study by the National Institute on Aging looked at the effect of a CBD and THC combination on late-stage dementia patients who were eligible for hospice care. While these patients are usually treated with antipsychotics, these are typically accompanied by side effects, such as agitation, confusion, and constipation. This treatment cannot reverse dementia or cure it, but it can ensure that the patient’s final days are lived free of agitation and fear. A recent study conducted by the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine involved giving 75 individuals with Alzheimer’s 5 milligrams of synthetic THC twice a day.
They noted that the patients experienced significantly less agitation as compared to when taking the placebo. Another study from 2019 reached similar results, however, they also reported an increase in drowsiness. According to the director of the UCLA Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids, Ziva Cooper, in some animal studies, cannabis seemed to improve cognitive function in older subjects, yet impaired cognitive functioning in younger subjects. She has now received funds from the National Institutes of Health to compare cannabis use effects in younger, middle-aged, and older adults.
The Bottom Line
Cannabis has recently proven to be a very versatile plant that can be prescribed for a wide range of ailments. For example, researchers have found that cannabis may help reduce the stiff muscles, bad sleep, and tremors associated with Parkinson’s Disease. It has also been shown that cannabis use can lower intraocular pressure, potentially offering temporary relief to people with glaucoma. Many cancer patients have also reported that cannabis use helped alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy such as a loss of appetite, pain, and nausea. Others have had great success managing their insomnia and restless leg syndrome.
These new studies offer hope that cannabis will likewise be able to bring relief to dementia patients. So far, the research on using cannabis for dementia relief has revealed promising results. While cannabis treatments cannot stop late-stage dementia, they can potentially make their final days more peaceful and less stressful. Bringing quality of life to loved ones in their last days is the goal. Cannabis treatment has the potential to remove the anxiety, agitation, and frustration associated with middle and late-stage dementia. However, more studies are needed to learn about the potential drawbacks, such as drowsiness and its impact on cognitive functioning.
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