Parkinson’s disease is one of the most common neurological diseases in the US. It can cause tremors, slow movement, postural instability as well as impaired balance and coordination. However, recent findings suggest symptoms of the disorder may be improved with cannabis. The review was led by Prof. Zvi Loewy of the Touro College of Pharmacy in New York, NY. It is published in the journal Parkinson’s Disease. The scientists note that medical cannabis has been approved in many states in the U.S. to treat cancer symptoms such as: HIV/AIDS, glaucoma, chronic pain, seizures, cachexia and multiple sclerosis.
In recent news, a different study suggested that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC); which is the active ingredient in cannabis, reduces beta-amyloid levels in nerve cells; which is a protein considered the hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. In the United States, Parkinson’s affects approximately 1 million individuals. It progresses or gets worse, over time and occurs when individuals stop producing dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that has a vital role in movement, cognitive and psychological functions. Currently there is no cure for the disease; treatments have several limitations and do not slow progression of Parkinson’s.
“Marijuana should be studied for PD pain relief.”
The scientist from this last study said that current research has indicated that the endocannabinoid system plays a vital role in Parkinson’s. The components of this system “are highly expressed in the neural circuit of basal ganglia, which is part of a complex neuronal system,” they said.
The neuronal system they speak of organizes activities from certain cortical regions that are vital in movement control.
“When we started doing this review,” said Prof. Loewy, “the therapies out there were basically for motor symptoms, but Parkinson’s also has non-motor symptoms that greatly impact the quality of a person’s life.”
He and his team conducted a thorough review of the literature on studies of marijuana.
The most critical finding was that chemical components of cannabis yield benefits different PD symptoms.
For example, Prof. Loewy noted that cannabis was found to relieve pain in other diseases, adding that it should be studied for pain relief in people with PD. The researchers noted that pain affects almost 50 percent of individuals with Parkinson’s.
Cannabis is particularly promising for PD. As per the team, the cannabinoid compounds in cannabis bind to dopamine receptors in order to lower the effects of reduced dopamine in the brain.
“Essentially, the compounds replace the normal compounds that are adversely affected by Parkinson’s,” Prof. Loewy said.
Preventing neuronal damage may slow progression of disease; however, the important finding from their review is centered around the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of cannabis, which can prevent neuronal damage.
The scientist stated that inflammation can damage neurons that produce dopamine; the lack of which contributes to movement problems in Parkinson’s. Therefore; they say preventing neuronal damage may slow Parkinson’s progression.
They said there’s a need for safer drugs to treat Parkinson’s; adding that marijuana “may provide a viable alternative or addition to the current treatment of Parkinson’s disease.”
As with any substance, there are risks to take into consideration. Current research has revealed some downsides to using cannabis such as: memory loss, increased osteoporosis risk and impaired blood vessel function.
Furthermore, a study published earlier this year suggested cannabis use may reduce dopamine in the brain, so how this could affect PD should be taken into account.
The researchers from this latest study conclude that “further studies are needed to provide more data on efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics, and interactions of cannabinoids.”
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