Category Archives: Mediclal Marijuana

Mediclal Marijuana, Music, Parkinson's, Research, Reviews, Sleep , , , Leave a comment

Cannabis and Parkinson’s Disease (PD)

by

This article popped up in my email alerts. Although I do not have access to the journal in which it appeared, I thought I would post it anyway, along with several article titles that appeared in the same journal. (If my former employer would grant me access to their technical library, I would be most grateful, and might even forego any patent filing awards that I would be eligible for if I hadn’t retired. I come across at least one new Human-Computer Interface issue that could be solved each week, But I digress). (The actual link to the article was in Medscape News).

Despite high interest (no pun intended(?)) in the use of cannabis as a treatment for Parkinson’s Disease symptoms, this study  finds that actual use remains low (at least in Germany). The article appeared in  Journal of Parkinson’s Disease: Yenilmez, Ferhat et al. ‘Cannabis in Parkinson’s Disease: The Patients’ View’. 1 Jan. 2021 : 309 – 321. 11, no. 1, pp. 309-321, 2021.

Sadly, it is not available as open access, but fortunately the methods and results provide adequate data regarding the study.

Abstract:

Background: Little is known about the patients’ view on treatment with medical cannabis (MC) for Parkinson’s disease (PD). Objective: To assess the PD community’s perception of MC and patients’ experience with MC.Abstract:

Methods: Applying a questionnaire-based survey, we evaluated general knowledge and interest in MC as well as the frequency, modalities, efficacy, and tolerability of application. Questionnaires were distributed nationwide via the membership journal of the German Parkinson Association and locally in our clinic to control for report bias.

Results: Overall, 1.348 questionnaires (1.123 nationwide, 225 local) were analysed. 51% of participants were aware of the legality of MC application, 28% of various routes of administration (ROA) and 9% of the difference between delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).

PD-related cannabis use was reported by 8.4% of patients and associated with younger age, living in large cities and better knowledge about the legal and clinical aspects of MC. Reduction of pain and muscle cramps was reported by more than 40% of cannabis users. Stiffness/akinesia, freezing, tremor, depression, anxiety and restless legs syndrome subjectively improved for more than 20% and overall tolerability was good. Improvement of symptoms was reported by 54% of users applying oral CBD and 68% inhaling THC-containing cannabis. Compared to CBD intake, inhalation of THC was more frequently reported to reduce akinesia and stiffness (50.0% vs. 35.4%; p < 0.05). (emphasis added) Interest in using MC was reported by 65% of non-users.

Conclusion: MC is considered as a therapeutic option by many PD patients. Nevertheless, efficacy and different ROA should further be investigated.

Some other articles on the same issue that might be of interest (All are at the above link):

The Subjective Experience of Living with Parkinson’s Disease: A Meta-Ethnography of Qualitative Literature

Does Gut Microbiota Influence the Course of Parkinson’s Disease? A 3-Year Prospective Exploratory Study in de novo Patients

Association Between Thyroid Diseases and Parkinson’s Disease: A Nested Case-Control Study Using a National Health Screening Cohort  ” The rates of levothyroxine treatment for more than 3 months, hypothyroidism, and hyperthyroidism were higher in the PD group than the control group (3.2%, 3.8%, and 2.8% vs. 2.5%, 2.9%, and 1.9%, respectively, p  < 0.05). The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) in model 2, which was adjusted for all potential confounders, for hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism in the PD group were 1.25 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.55, p  = 0.044) and 1.37 (95% CI 1.13–1.67, p  = 0.002), respectively. 

Subthalamic Stimulation Improves Quality of Sleep in Parkinson Disease: A 36-Month Controlled Study

Diet Quality and Risk of Parkinson’s Disease: A Prospective Study and Meta-Analysis

Identification of Pre-Dominant Coping Types in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: An Abductive Content Analysis of Video-Based Narratives

Dissonance in Music Impairs Spatial Gait Parameters in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease “ Conclusion: Our observations suggest that dissonant music negatively affects particularly spatial gait parameters in PD by yet unknown mechanisms, but putatively through increased cognitive interference reducing attention in auditory cueing.”

###

depression, Mediclal Marijuana, Parkinson's, Research, Reviews , , , Leave a comment

PD Treatment with Cannabis?

by

One form of treatment that has a lot of anecdotal evidence but has resisted scientific inquiry due to archaic legal issues is the use of Cannabis. Although there haven’t been a lot of studies related to Parkinson’s Disease, quite a few have been conducted related to other medical conditions, including addiction and other drug abuse/misuse issues and psychiatric conditions. This post provides a look at a few studies that are open access and which might have a relationship to mental issues related to Parkinson’s Disease (such as anxiety, depression, apathy…not that anyone cares…)

Cannabis, a complex plant…   

Atakan Z. (2012). Cannabis, a complex plant: different compounds and different effects on individuals. Therapeutic advances in psychopharmacology, 2(6), 241–254. https://doi.org/10.1177/2045125312457586

an overview of the biochemical basis of cannabis research by examining the different effects of the two main compounds of the plant and the endocannabinoid system, and then go on to review available information on the possible factors explaining variation of its effects upon different individuals.

A review of the chemical compounds of greatest interest to researchers.

The Genetic Structure of Marijuana and Hemp

journals.plos.org (2015)

We find a moderate correlation between the genetic structure of marijuana strains and their reported C. sativa and C. indica ancestry and show that marijuana strain names often do not reflect a meaningful genetic identity. We also provide evidence that hemp is genetically more similar to C. indica type marijuana than to C. sativa strains.

Hemp has more CBD and less THC, marijuana (as C. sativa is commonly referred to, as more THC,  in general.

The effectiveness of Cannabis Flower for the relief of depression

YALE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 93 (2020), pp.251-264.

The findings suggest that, at least in the short term, the vast majority
of patients that use cannabis experience antidepressant effects, although the magnitude of the effect and extent of side effect experiences vary with chemotypic properties of the plant.

Contrary to some of the other reports, this one suggests that most people get an antidepressant effect, although each person’s experience might be different.

The Impact of Cannabidiol on Psychiatric and Medical Conditions

J Clin Med Res. 2020;12(7):393-403

a systematic review of literature reviewing the available clinical data on
CBD, for use in various medical and psychiatric conditions with focus
on a review of the pharmacology and toxicity. 

As up to date a review one can get at this point in time.

Changes in patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) scores in adults with medical authorization for cannabis

Round et al. BMC Public Health (2020) 20:987  https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09089-3

Although the majority showed no clinically important changes in PHQ-9 scores, a number of patients showed improvement or deteriorations in PHQ-9 scores. Future studies should focus on the parallel use of screening questionnaires to control for PHQ-9 sensitivity and to explore potential factors that may have attributed to the improvement in scores pre- and post- 3-6 month time period.

Similar to the last study cited, that supported the hypothesis that Cannabis use didn’t seem to have an effect of whether one was anxious or depressed.

Attenuated reward activations associated with cannabis use in anxious/depressed individuals

Spechler, P.A., Stewart, J.L., Kuplicki, R. et al. Attenuated reward activations associated with cannabis use in anxious/depressed individuals. Transl Psychiatry 10, 189 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-020-0807-9

… data support the hypothesis that cannabis use in individuals with mood/anxiety disorders is associated with attenuated brain processing of reward magnitude, which may contribute to persistent affective symptoms.

In other words, I think that what they are saying is that if you are anxious or depressed, Cannabis won’t necessarily change that.

Health-related quality of life in young people: the importance of education

Gil-Lacruz et al. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes (2020) 18:187
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-020-01446-5

The dimensions of HRQOL are influenced by educational level. The influence is greatest among girls and the youngest members of the poorest area of the district. Public authorities should contemplate the development of an equitable education system from the beginning of the life cycle as a public health strategy.

Not specifically related to PD either, this has a broader impact. Better education leads to better health (and probably better schools, better businesses, and better public services and elected officials, one might wager).

That’s all for now. Time to relax. Take five. Smoke ’em if you got ’em, as the saying goes…

 

Mediclal Marijuana Leave a comment

And now for something completely different…

by

This is an article on the legal problems created by the politicization of medical issues:

Navigating Through the Haze of Cannabis and Patents

The article begins by pointing out an obvious conflict:

  • The US Patent Office has permitted patenting of Cannabis related innovations since 1942.
  • The Federal government has outlawed the possession, cultivation, and distribution of marijuana since 1970 with the passage of the Controlled Substances act.

An interesting timeline of the history of Marijuana (and hemp)  in the United States can be found at the PBS Frontline web site:BUSTED: America’s war against marijuana

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out. At one, time, people were required to grow hemp, at another time, people were given draft deferments to grow hemp. I would be happy to see Cannabis legalized so that medical research could be conducted in a reasonable fashion. And so grandmothers don’t get arrested for carrying a small vial of CBD oil onto an airplane.

###