EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 4 PM ET, May 13, 2015

Medical Marijuana Pill May Not Be Effective in Treating Behavioral Symptoms of Dementia

Study Suggests Drug Dosage Safe and Well-Tolerated in Trial

MINNEAPOLIS -

A new study suggests that medical marijuana pills may not help treat behavioral symptoms of dementia, such as aggression, pacing and wandering. The research is published in the May 13, 2015, online issue of , the medical journal of the . However, researchers did find that the drug dosage used in the clinical trial was safe and well-tolerated. “Our study results are valuable since any firm evidence of the effectiveness and safety of medical marijuana in this disease area is scarce,” said study author Geke A.H. van den Elsen, MD, with Radboud university medical center in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. “Ours is the largest study carried out so far on evaluating this drug for behavioral symptoms of dementia.” For the study, researchers randomly selected 50 participants with dementia and behavioral symptoms to receive 1.5 milligrams of medical marijuana or a placebo pill three times per day for three weeks. The medical marijuana pill contained tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the main chemical involved in marijuana’s psychoactive effects. The main study measurement was change in scores on a test of behavioral symptoms called the Neuropsychiatric Inventory, assessed at the start of the study and after two and three weeks. The test scores improved for both the medical marijuana and the placebo groups, but there was no significant difference between the scores for the two groups. There was also no difference between the two groups for participants’ quality of life, daily living activities or pain-related behavior and pain intensity. Van den Elsen said improvements in the placebo group could be due to several factors, including attention and support from the study personnel, expectations of patients and caregivers and training of nursing home personnel. People in the two groups had a similar number of mild and moderate side effects. There were no serious side effects in either group. “Since the side effects were mild to moderate, it’s possible that a higher dose could be tolerated and could possibly be beneficial,” said van den Elsen. “Future studies are needed to test this. A drug that can treat the behavioral symptoms of dementia is much needed, as about 62 percent of dementia patients in the general community and up to 80 percent of nursing home residents experience these symptoms.” The study was supported by the European Regional Development Fund and the Province of Gelderland. The drug was provided by Echo Pharmaceuticals, Weesp, the Netherlands. To learn more about dementia, please visit www.aan.com/patients.

The ��ɫ���� is the leading voice in brain health. As the world’s largest association of neurologists and neuroscience professionals with more than 40,000 members, the AAN provides access to the latest news, science and research affecting neurology for patients, caregivers, physicians and professionals alike. The AAN’s mission is to enhance member career fulfillment and promote brain health for all. A neurologist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, care and treatment of brain, spinal cord and nervous system diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, concussion, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, headache and migraine.

Explore the latest in neurological disease and brain health, from the minds at the AAN at or find us on , , , and .