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- Title
Effects of tetrahydrocannabinol on balance and gait in patients with dementia: A randomised controlled crossover trial.
- Authors
Van Den Elsen, Geke A. H.; Tobben, Lieke; Ahmed, Amir I. A.; Verkes, Robbert Jan; Kramers, Cornelis; Marijnissen, Radboud M.; Olde Rikkert, Marcel G. M.; Van Der Marck, Marjolein A.; van den Elsen, Geke Ah; Ahmed, Amir Ia; Olde Rikkert, Marcel Gm
- Abstract
Oral tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is currently studied for its possible efficacy on dementia-related neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), but might lead to increased risk of falling. This was a randomised, double-blind, crossover study to evaluate the effects of THC on mobility in dementia patients. Eighteen community-dwelling patients ( Mage=77 years) received 1.5 mg of oral THC twice daily and placebo, in random order, for three days, separated by a four-day washout. Balance and gait were assessed using SwayStarTM and GAITRiteTM within two hours after administration, in two consecutive intervention periods, under the following conditions: standing with eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC), preferred speed walking with and without a cognitive dual task. THC significantly increased sway during standing EC (roll angle 0.32[±0.6]°, p=0.05; pitch angle 1.04[±1.5]°, p=0.009; pitch velocity 1.96[±3.3]°/s, p=0.02), but not during standing EO. During preferred speed walking, THC increased stride length (4.3[±5.4] cm, p=0.005) and trunk sway (pitch angle 1.18[±1.6]°, p=0.005). No effects were observed during dual task walking. No differences in the number and type of adverse events were found, and no falls occurred after administration of THC. This study showed that 3 mg of THC per day has a benign adverse event profile regarding mobility and was well tolerated by community-dwelling dementia patients.
- Subjects
TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL; DEMENTIA patients; NEUROBEHAVIORAL disorders; CANNABINOIDS; ALZHEIMER'S patients; DISEASES; PATIENTS; THERAPEUTICS; CANNABIS (Genus); COMPARATIVE studies; CROSSOVER trials; DEMENTIA; POSTURAL balance; GAIT in humans; RESEARCH methodology; MEDICAL cooperation; POSTURE; RESEARCH; STATISTICAL sampling; EVALUATION research; RANDOMIZED controlled trials; BLIND experiment
- Publication
Journal of Psychopharmacology, 2017, Vol 31, Issue 2, p184
- ISSN
0269-8811
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1177/0269881116665357