New Warnings About Benzodiazepine Use and Dementia Risk

There have been several studies that have indicated that have linked benzodiazepine use to an increased risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD).

This is one out of Finland is one of the largest. 

Lead author Vesa Tapiainen, MD, PhD, said: “These drugs are often used to treat sleep problems, but their efficacy for this indication diminishes over time, whereas the risks for adverse events remain.”

In addition to insomnia, benzodiazepines and other so-called "Z" drugs, such as zolpidem (multiple brands) and zopiclone (Lunesta, Sunovion), are used to treat other neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia, such as anxiety.

Commenting on the study’s findings, David S. Knopman, MD (Mayo Clinic, Alzheimer's Association Medical and Scientific Advisory Council), noted that many studies have suggested that patients who are exposed to certain psychoactive drugs, such as those with cholinomimetic properties, are at increased risk for dementia.

"I therefore find it plausible that benzodiazepines and related drugs could carry the same risks," he said. 

The "bottom line" for Knopman is that use of certain psychoactive drugs seems to increase the risk for dementia. However, it is unclear whether the drugs are temporarily worsening cognition or symptoms are being treated with these drugs, said Knopman.

"In other words, the direction of causality from drugs to dementia could go in either direction, and this study that used administrative data can't determine the direction of causality," he said.

Nevertheless, a take-home message is that benzodiazepines and related sleep medications should be avoided "if at all possible" in older individuals, said Knopman.

Similar to benzodiazepines and “Z” drugs, cannabinoid-based medicines have anxiolytic, anticonvulsive and relaxing effects. When dosed low and slow by an experienced healthcare practitioner, cannabinoids can be equally or more effective than these medications in managing symptoms, but with a far superior side-effect profile. 

Read the full study here.

CBD and terpenes show promise for COVID-19 Inflammation

“Early results from an ongoing Israeli study are adding to the chorus of researchers suggesting that cannabis’ ingredients could be a game changing treatment in the fight against Covid-19.”

The ongoing study has found that the combination of CBD with terpenes was three times more effective in treating Covid-19 inflammation than conventional treatments like corticosteroids.

These results still needed to be reviewed and validated by the larger scientific community, but if they prove accurate, they could offer great promise for treating patients who develop the most severe symptoms of Covid-19.

Full article available here: https://www.forbes.com/…/new-research-suggests-terpenes-a…/…

#COVID19 #Coronavirus #Study #Research #DrBlakePearson #GreenlyHealth #PearsonHealth #MedicalCannabis #CannabisIsMedicine #CannabisCures #CBD

Alzheimer's Disease & Cannabinoid Medicine

An Alzheimer’s diagnosis is life-changing for the person with the disease, as well as their families & friends.

While there are currently no treatments available to slow or stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, there are several medications and non-pharmacological interventions that can temporarily improve the symptoms in some people. There is also a significant amount of research being conducted.

In the first clinical trial to show that a cannabinoid can decrease agitation in Alzheimer’s disease, researchers at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto found: “A robust and significant decrease in agitation during nabilone compared to placebo, a significant overall improvement and a decrease in caregiver distress.”

To read the full article, google search “neurologylive.com + Krista Lanctot.”

Cannabis Proven To Help Insomniacs Sleep

Australia has always been a special place for me and as those who follow my page know, I spent several weeks there last year providing cannabinoid medicine education to Australian physicians. There are many parallels between the Australian medical system and our own, so I aim to keep up with the research coming forward, which led me to this new study. 

Completed by the University of Western Australia, this world-first study has “ shown that medicinal cannabis can be used as a treatment for adults suffering from chronic insomnia.”

The researchers found statistically significant improvements in a range of objective and subjective sleep measures, including total sleep time, wake time during the night, time to sleep, quality of sleep and feeling rested after sleep. Participants also reported a significant improvement in subjective measures of stress, fatigue and social functioning.

Lead researcher, Professor Peter Eastwood said: “Positive patient experiences with minimal side-effects are critical to the success of any insomnia drug and highlights the potential for this treatment to address a key area of unmet need.” 

I couldn’t agree more.

Full article available here.