A recent study, presented at the International Psychogeriatric Association conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina, has revealed promising results for dronabinol, a synthetic version of THC, in managing agitation in Alzheimer’s patients. The study found that dronabinol can reduce agitation symptoms by an average of 30%, offering a potential alternative to current treatments, which often involve antipsychotics that can lead to serious side effects.
Alzheimer’s disease, the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder in the United States, affects millions of people aged 65 and older. This number is expected to rise to 13.8 million by 2060. One of the most challenging aspects of Alzheimer’s is agitation, affecting approximately 40% of patients. This can manifest as excessive movements, verbal outbursts, and even physical aggression.
“Agitation is one of the most distressing symptoms of Alzheimer’s dementia, and we are pleased to make positive strides forward in treatment of these patients,” said Dr. Paul Rosenberg, a professor at Johns Hopkins University and a co-principal investigator for the study.
The study involved 75 patients experiencing severe agitation due to Alzheimer’s, recruited from five different sites, including 35 patients admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital between March 2017 and May 2024. Participants had to exhibit significant symptoms of agitation for at least two weeks to be eligible. Researchers randomly assigned participants to receive either five milligrams of dronabinol in pill form or a placebo twice daily for three weeks.
The results were significant. After the treatment period, those taking dronabinol showed a notable reduction in agitation symptoms, with Pittsburgh Agitation Scale (PAS) scores dropping from an average of 9.68 to 7.26 – a 30% decrease. In contrast, the placebo group did not show any change.
The implications of this research extend beyond the patients themselves. Agitation not only affects patients but also puts immense pressure on caregivers, often resulting in emergency room visits and long-term care placements.
“It is the agitation, not the memory loss, that often drives individuals with dementia to the emergency department and long-term-care facilities,” explained Dr. Brent Forester, chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at Tufts Medical Center and a co-principal investigator on the study.
Dr. Forester believes that dronabinol could lower healthcare costs and improve the well-being of caregivers by reducing the burden of managing agitation. This study offers a glimmer of hope for Alzheimer’s patients and their families, highlighting the potential of dronabinol as a safe and effective treatment option for a challenging and often debilitating symptom.
