CBD Oil For Dementia - What The Research & Experts Say

Do you ask yourself whether CBD oil works for dementia? Here is how it helps; what are dementia, CBD, and dementia?

The term dementia refers to changes in the brain that can lead to significant memory loss and a general decline in mental skills. These changes can occur in people who have dementia. Alzheimer's disease, the most prevalent type of dementia, typically affects people over 65, although it can also strike younger people. Dementia is a condition that can afflict people of any age. A person needs to have at least two different types of impairments that significantly impact their day-to-day life to be diagnosed with dementia.

What is Dementia?

Chen et al. (2020) stated that dementia is not a disease in and of itself but a collection of diseases that interfere with one’s brain's regular operations. Dementia is a condition that is characterized by the impairment of at least two essential brain processes, such as diminished judgment and loss of memory. Any dementia might negatively impact cognitive functioning. Because Alzheimer's disease is the most prevalent kind of dementia, one can consider dementia to be merely a category that Alzheimer's Disease is a part of. But Alzheimer's disease isn't the only type of dementia. There are four distinct types of dementia that can be distinguished from one another as follows:

Frontotemporal Dementia

The type of dementia known as frontotemporal dementia is characterized by the progressive death of nerve cells in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. The areas of the brain that are responsible for controlling behavior, language, and personality are impacted by frontotemporal dementia.

Lewy Body Dementia

It is the most prevalent progressive dementia, characterized by a loss. When aberrant protein clumps start to grow in the brain, a person is more likely to develop dementia.

Vascular Dementia

Wheeler-Kingshott et al. (2020) stated that vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia after Alzheimer's disease. Damage to the blood arteries is the root cause of this condition, which reduces the amount of direct blood flow to the brain, increasing the risk of a stroke or blood clot.

Mixed Dementia

They characterize mixed dementia as a combination of symptoms characteristic of Alzheimer's disease and those of other types of dementia. Those above 65 risks are developing Alzheimer's disease, although further advancement usually results in mixed dementia.

CBD and Dementia

Marinotti & Sarill (2020) stated that CBD is a potential all-natural treatment for many significant illnesses, including conditions that cause memory loss, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. Because CBD is a powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotectant, it has the potential to significantly improve brain functioning, which is critical for reducing the severity of neurodegenerative illnesses and putting a stop to their progression.

Alzheimer's Disease

Corsi et al. (2018) stated that they had linked CBD to reducing inflammation and slowing the loss of brain cells. The detrimental effects of Alzheimer's disease are compounded when inflammation is present. It is one of the primary contributors to this disorder. Damage is proportional to the degree of inflammation present in the brain. Alzheimer's patients frequently have a pattern of progressive decline and degradation of brain cells in particular brain regions. CBD can improve the plasticity of the brain's hippocampus region. This area of the brain is crucial for cognitive functioning and the formation of memories. They have shown the endocannabinoid system to play a role in the neurotransmission, neuropathology, and neurobiology of several forms of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, according to the findings of clinical trials conducted by researchers.

Vascular Dementia

People with vascular dementia typically experience difficulties with planning, reasoning, memory, judgment, and other thought processes due to brain damage caused by reduced blood flow to their brains. It can lead to a variety of other cognitive issues as well. Stimulating cannabis receptors in the brain helps restore blood flow to a damaged brain.

Parkinson's' Disease Dementia

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological condition that primarily impacts persons in their middle years and later life. Parkinson's disease dementia refers to the phenomenon in which the symptoms of dementia are brought on by Parkinson's disease rather than by dementia itself. The symptoms of Parkinson's disease, which include tremors, muscle stiffness, and slow, jerky movement most frequently, are consistent with the hypothesis that the disease results from a reduction in the body's dopamine production. Cannabinoids such as CBD have proven to exert neuroprotective and antioxidant effects on the brain. These benefits, in conjunction with the anti-inflammatory qualities of CBD, make it a potentially useful treatment option for controlling dementia brought on by Parkinson's disease.

Lewy Bodies Dementia

The deposits of alpha-synuclein protein found in the brain are referred to by their scientific term, Lewy Bodies. These accumulations can cause judgment, sleeping, behavior, movement, and mood problems. They can also lead to movement difficulties. Cannabidiol (CBD) may help alleviate anxiety and maintain mood stability. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory effects of CBD can lessen the severity of motor symptoms, which can assist with regulating sleep.

Frontotemporal Dementia

The loss of more cells in the frontal or temporal lobes of the brain can be a precipitating factor for symptoms of psychosis and depression. In contrast to many antipsychotic medications, CBD may reduce tremors, anxiety, and rigidity without the adverse effects typically associated with pharmaceutical treatments.

Huntington's Disease Dementia

This disease, also referred to as Huntington's chorea, is an inherited condition that causes the death of brain cells and, consequently, frequently brings on dementia-like symptoms. The early signs of this ailment are typically minor and include issues with one's mood and ability to concentrate. As the condition progresses, the individual may experience a general lack of coordination and an unsteady gait— [Case in point:] (walking motion). CBD's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristics can help manage Huntington's disease. They are safe even at very high dosages.

Conclusion

Researchers have been looking at whether or not CBD has any neuroprotective qualities and how it might affect the progression of neurodegeneration. Cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system have shown promise in reversing the effects of neurodegeneration when given regularly. However, there is not yet enough evidence to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system are responsible for these effects. If someone is interested in trying CBD oil for dementia, they should speak with their primary care physician. It is especially important if you are already on any medicine, as your physician can determine whether or not CBD is safe for you to use.

References

Castellazzi, G., Cuzzoni, M. G., Cotta Ramusino, M., Martinelli, D., Denaro, F., Ricciardi, A., ... & Gandini A machine learning approach for the differential diagnosis of alzheimer and vascular dementia fed by MRI selected features. Frontiers in neuroinformatics, 14, 25.

Marinotti, O., & Sarill, M. (2020). Differentiating full-spectrum hemp extracts from CBD isolates Implications for policy, safety, and science. Journal of Dietary Supplements, 17(5), 517-526.

Pellati, F., Borgonetti, V., Brighenti, V., Biagi, M., Benvenuti, S., & Corsi, L. (2018). Cannabis sativa L. and nonpsychoactive cannabinoids: their chemistry and role against oxidative stress, inflammation, and cancer. BioMed research international, 2018.

Zlokovic, B. V., Gottesman, R. F., Bernstein, K. E., Seshadri, S., McKee, A., Snyder, H., ... & Chen, J. (2020). Vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID): a report from the 2018 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Workshop. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 16(12), 1714-1733.