Cannabis May Treat Lou Gehrig’s Disease
(Photo: Brian Burt/Flickr)
New research shows marijuana-based treatments could delay the progression of a fatal condition known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
The study, published in the journal CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics, found that treatment with Sativex, a cannabis-based pharmaceutical, led to a modest reduction in disease progression in mice that were bred to model ALS.
The research was led by a group of scientists from Complutense University in Madrid, Spain, who conclude that their findings “provide support that Sativex (or alternative Sativex-like combinations of phytocannabinoids) may serve as a novel disease-modifying therapy in ALS.”
A number of previous studies also demonstrate a potential for cannabinoids, including CBD and THC, to slow the condition, the team notes. The researchers add that further experiments should be carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of higher doses.
Approximately 30,000 Americans currently suffer from Lou Gehrig’s disease. The disorder affects motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. As it progresses, patients lose control over voluntary muscle movements, eventually leading to paralysis and death.
There is no known cure for ALS. The only treatment approved by the FDA, Riluzole, has been shown to lengthen patient survival by just a few months.
On the other hand, Sativex has been approved in 24 countries as a treatment for multiple sclerosis, which shares a number of similarities with ALS.
Likewise, research shows cannabinoids have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, which many suspect could be used to slow a variety of neurodegenerative disorders.
So far, six U.S. states have made medical marijuana available for patients with Lou Gehrig’s disease including Maine, Arizona, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, and most recently Florida.
