Clinical Trial Finds Cannabis Extract With THC and CBD Improves Cognitive Function in Patients With Alzheimer’s-Related Dementia

“We designed this trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of low-dose THC-CBD balanced cannabinoid extract in the treatment of patients with AD-associated dementia”, states the research team consisting of members from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, and the Universidade Federal da Integração Latino-Americana. Their study was also published online by the U.S. National Library of Medicine. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study included participants aged 60 to 80 who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s dementia. For 26 weeks, patients were given either a placebo or a daily oral dose of a THC-CBD balanced extract containing 0.350 mg THC and 0.245 mg CBD. Resarchers call this “the longest clinical trial evaluating cannabinoids effects on Alzheimer’s disease patients.”

At the end of the trial, patients who received the cannabinoid extract had “significantly higher” Mini-Mental State Exam scores compared to those given placebo, showing measurable improvements in cognitive function. The researchers also reported that “no significant difference was detected between placebo and cannabis groups in terms of secondary outcomes and adverse events incidence,” indicating the extract was well-tolerated.

While secondary outcomes showed no major changes, the study is notable as the longest clinical trial to date assessing cannabinoids in Alzheimer’s patients. Researchers say the findings point to low-dose THC-CBD as a potentially safe and effective treatment option for Alzheimer’s-related dementia.