Small Brazilian study finds microdoses of cannabis stabilized cognitive decline in mild Alzheimer's patients

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Microdoses of cannabis extract stabilized cognition in mild Alzheimer's patients without causing psychoactive effects, according to a small Brazilian trial.
Small Brazilian study finds microdoses of cannabis stabilized cognitive decline in mild Alzheimer's patients
A What happened
Inspired by animal studies showing low-dose THC improved cognition, researchers conducted a double-blind randomized trial with 24 mild Alzheimer's patients (aged 60–80). Daily administration of cannabis oil with equal low doses of THC and CBD (0.3 mg each) resulted in stable cognitive test scores, while placebo patients worsened. The microdose avoided the typical “high,” addressing cultural reluctance to cannabis therapy. Effects were modest and confined to cognition, with no improvement in mood or quality of life. Further research is needed with larger groups and biological markers to assess disease progression impact.
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Key insights

  • 1

    Microdosing cannabis bypasses psychoactive effects while potentially preserving: Extremely low cannabis doses can modulate brain biological systems important in Alzheimer's (like reducing inflammation) without causing noticeable intoxication, which might overcome cultural resistance to cannabis therapy.

  • 2

    Endocannabinoid system declines with aging, presenting a new therapeutic target: Age-related reduction in endocannabinoid signaling may make brains more susceptible to cognitive degradation; restoring this signaling with microdoses could mitigate Alzheimer's progression.

  • 3

    Microdosing approach offers a paradigm shift for cannabinoid therapy in: Moving away from high-dose cannabis use, microdosing can leverage therapeutic benefits without legal or social obstacles linked to the psychoactive 'high,' enabling preventive strategies in vulnerable populations.

Takeaways

The study marks a first step in evaluating cannabis microdosing to stabilize cognition in Alzheimer's disease. Larger, longer trials integrating biological measures are essential to confirm effects and determine whether cannabis can slow disease progression.

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