How Cannabis is Easing Dementia Symptoms and Changing Lives – The Bluntness For decades, dementia has been a formidable challenge for patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers alike. Characterized by anxiety, agitation, and a decline in cognitive function, the disease often leaves loved ones and medical professionals searching for ways to improve patients’ quality of life. Enter cannabis—a once-stigmatized plant now emerging as a potential game-changer for dementia care.
While definitive research is limited, anecdotal evidence and early studies are painting a promising picture of cannabis as a tool for managing symptoms like anxiety, agitation, and sleep disturbances. For patients like 72-year-old Mark Roberts of Elwell, Michigan, cannabis has provided relief traditional medications failed to deliver. “It just calms me down,” he shared with the Wall Street Journal , of the liquid cannabis dose he takes twice a day. His wife Brenda agrees, noting in the article how the treatment has positively impacted their relationship by easing his outbursts and anxiety. Hot StoriesAI Powered How Much Weed is Too Much? 11 Signs You’re Greening Out and How to Handle It
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Despite stories like the Roberts’, the use of cannabis in dementia care is not without its complexities or detractors. Questions remain about its long-term effects, particularly on cognition, as well as its risks for older adults. Yet, as more patients and caregivers explore cannabis as an alternative to traditional antipsychotics, the conversation about its role in dementia care is evolving—and it’s long overdue. A Shift Toward Compassionate Care
For many dementia patients, traditional medications often come with unsettling side effects. Antipsychotics, frequently prescribed for severe agitation, can cause constipation, confusion, and in some cases, even exacerbate agitation. These side effects can diminish quality of life for patients already grappling with a cruel disease. Don’t Miss Out
Get the latest updates and insights delivered to your inbox. Cannabis offers a different approach. According to the Wall Street Journal article, doctors like Dr. Jeffrey Hergenrather, a California general practitioner specializing in cannabis, are seeing an increasing number of dementia patients—roughly 20% of his consultations—turning to cannabis […]
Illinois approves 4 new conditions for women for medical marijuana
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