Cannabinoids for dementia treatment

Dr. Jennifer Rhodes-Kropf, a palliative care physician and geriatrician in Boston, was always searching for alternatives to antipsychotics for her patients with dementia.

"We really worry about the sedation component of antipsychotics creating a vegetative state and increasing their fall risk," she said.

When medical marijuana became legal in Massachusetts, she encouraged caregivers to try it in dementia patients with agitation.

"For patients with dementia, we can address pain and agitation simultaneously with cannabinoids," Rhodes-Kropf said.

She saw some encouraging results and pointed to a patient, Barbara, 85, with moderate dementia and extreme anxiety.

"It helped her appetite and was definitely calming for her, allowing her to enjoy her day more," Rhodes-Kropf said.

The positive effects of cannabinoids used in tandem or in place of antipsychotics in patients with dementia piqued the interest of Daniel Harris, assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Delaware College of Health Sciences. Harris was awarded more than $260,000 from Delaware INBRE for a first-of-its-kind pilot study, examining the use of prescription cannabinoids in nursing homes nationwide.

"Use of drugs like dronabinol, nabilone and cannabidiol has increased over time, but overall utilization remains low," Harris said. "We know from clinicians that these medications are being used for dementia symptoms when other therapies haven't worked well."