Effects of THC-Free CBD Oil on Agitation in Patients With Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer Disease, Dementia, Major Neurocognitive Disorder With Aggressive Behavior
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Alzheimer Disease focused on measuring Agitation, Aggression, Neuropsychiatric symptoms, CBD Oil, Cannabinoids, Caregiver burden, Sleep quality, Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia, Neurocognitive disorders, Psychomotor agitation, Cannabidiols
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Males/females over 50 years old.
- Have a diagnosis of dementia due to AD or mixed AD with another type of dementia.
- A Mini-Mental State Exam score (MMSE) between 4 and 28 inclusive.
- Presence of agitation with a Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI)-agitation/aggression subscore > 3.
- Participants and their informal caregivers must be fluent in English (includes reading, writing, and speech) and able to give informed consent.
- For patients treated with cognitive-enhancing medications (cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEI) and/or memantine), the dosage must be stable for at least 1 month (30 days). If the ChEI and/or memantine has been discontinued, patients may enroll after 15 days.
- Eligible caregivers must either live with the participant or have a minimum of 4 hours of daily contact with them.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Diagnosis of non-AD or non-mixed dementias.
- Very mild dementia or advanced dementia (MMSE: greater than 28 or less than 4).
- NPI-agitation-aggression score < 3.
- Having a serious or unstable medical illness including cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, respiratory, endocrine, neurologic or hematologic disease which might confound assessment of safety outcomes as determined by the study physician.
- Presence or history of other serious psychiatric disorders or neurological conditions (e.g. psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia).
- Current abuse of/dependence on marijuana, current drug abuse, current alcohol abuse.
- Having seizure disorders.
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Indication of baseline delirium as determined by the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM).
- Current use of lithium.
- Inability to swallow CBD oil softgels.
- Changes in dosage of anti-depressives within 4 weeks before randomization and during the study.
- Changes in dosage of antipsychotics or benzodiazepines within 1 week prior to randomization and during the study.
- Contraindications to CBD oil (history of hypersensitivity to any cannabinoid).
- Frequent falling due to orthostatic hypotension.
- Use of tricyclic antidepressants (TCA), fluoxetine, and/or carbamazepine. -Patients who reside in nursing homes.
Sites / Locations
- Eastern Virginia Medical SchoolRecruiting
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Active Comparator
Placebo Comparator
Hemp-based CBD oil Gelcaps
Oral placebo Gelcaps
The intervention consists of 6 weeks oral administration of CBD oil Gelcaps, starting at a dosage of 15 mg twice per day with up titration to 45 mg twice per day. At any given dose, if participants develop side effects, the dosage will be reduced to the previous dose.
Participants in the control group will receive oral placebo Gelcaps that are identical in appearance to the CBD oil Gelcaps. Dosing will be identical to the intervention arm.