This fall, researchers at King’s College in London will begin a test of medical marijuana on patients with dementia to determine whether the drug will help treat symptoms like agitation and aggression. The team will use Sativex, an oral spray that contains THC and CBD. Lead researcher Chris Albertyn said they hope the drug can be used as an alternative to antipsychotic medications that are used to treat aggression in those with dementia, but often come with dangerous side effects. Previously, Sativex was approved to treat patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and alleviate joint pain. Albertyn said that though the trial is currently aimed at UK residents, the researchers hope to conduct multinational studies testing Sativex on dementia patients if the results of the pilot study seem promising. Read more here.
