Dronabinol, a synthetic THC drug, reduces Alzheimer’s agitation by 30% in a Johns Hopkins-led study, offering a safer alternative to antipsychotics. Researchers aim for further studies to expand its use. Patients tolerated synthetic THC (dronabinol) well, without the adverse effects commonly associated with existing Alzheimer’s agitation medications.
A study conducted by researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Tufts University School of Medicine found that a pill form of dronabinol, an FDA-approved synthetic version of THC (the main ingredient in marijuana), reduces agitation in Alzheimer’s patients by an average of 30%.
The researchers say that compared to current treatments for agitation, such as antipsychotics, dronabinol produced similar calming effects without adverse results such as delirium or seizures.
Results of the eight-year clinical trial were presented at the International Psychogeriatric Association conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Sept. 26.“These new findings represent eight years of work dedicated to people who have Alzheimer’s as well as their caregivers,” says Paul Rosenberg, M.D., professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and co-principal investigator for this study. “Agitation is one of the most distressing symptoms of Alzheimer’s dementia, and we are pleased to make positive strides forward in the treatment of these patients.” Alzheimer’s Agitation and the Need for New Treatments
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease in the United States, with an estimated 6.7 million cases in Americans age 65 and older, according to the National Institutes of Health. This number is predicted to grow to 13.8 million by 2060. Agitation is difficult to manage. It is defined as excess motor activity (pacing or repetitive movements), verbal aggression, and/or physical aggression. An estimated 40% of people with Alzheimer’s develop agitation.
Although mild agitation can sometimes be moderated by behavioral intervention, in moderate to severe cases, some form of medication is typically required to manage symptoms and provide relief for caregivers.“It is the agitation, not the memory loss, that often drives individuals with dementia to the emergency department and long-term-care facilities,” says Brent Forester, M.D., psychiatrist-in-chief and chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at Tufts […]
Alzheimer’s Breakthrough: Synthetic THC Pill Proves Effective in Clinical Trial
