CBD Dementia Treatment Tested in Ontario Senior Care Facilities
Positive Signs for Radical New Approach to Dementia and Alzheimer’s Care – LPC
The CBC reports that Karen Walker was 52 when she was first diagnosed with dementia. Now, four years later, she suffers bouts of agitation that sometimes lead to physical aggression. But Karen’s husband Mike said those outbursts have gotten better since she started taking an experimental CBD dementia treatment.
“She still gets her outbursts, but not near what it used to be. I know that it was a lot more severe there for quite awhile,” Mike said.
Karen is part of a study by Canopy Growth’s medical cannabis subsidiary, Spectrum Therapeutics. Researchers are currently following 100 patients in Ontario with 100 more to follow. The goal is to find new treatments for common ailments in seniors including pain and dementia, and to track side effects.
Mike said that not only is the CBD dementia treatment reducing Karen’s outbursts, she’s becoming more aware.
“Before, I would take my phone out and she would grab it and throw it across the floor,” Mike said. “Now, I hold the phone with music on it and I would show her pictures of her grandkids and she would have a big smile.”
Health Professionals Advise Caution with New Medications Including CBD Dementia Treatment – LPC
Unfortunately, what works for one patient may not work for another. It seems that’s true too for this new CBD dementia treatment. Dr. Rhonda Collins, who works for Revera Homes, is helping identify residents who could benefit from the study. A huge part of her job is educating the family about the possible benefits and drawbacks of the experimental treatment. In her mind, results of the trial have been mixed so far.
“In my practice I’ve seen people have amazing responses to cannabis. I’ve seen people have zero response. And I also have seen people have negative responses,” Dr. Collins said. “That’s why it’s so important to me that rather than have a few scattered stories from across different sites, we have some rather robust evidence.”
CBD remedies have been used to treat a variety of medical conditions such as epilepsy and anxiety. It’s even being tested to see if it can be used to wean ex-NHL players from opioids for pain relief. More study is needed for all possible treatments including CBD dementia treatment. But for Mike Walker, the results are clear.
“If I can’t fix her, at least give her a better quality of life.”
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