title: Effects of cannabidiol in the treatment of patients with Parkinson's disease: an exploratory double-blind trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Parkinson's disease (PD) has a progressive course and is characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. Although no neuroprotective treatments for PD have been found to date, the endocannabinoid system has emerged as a promising target.
  
  
  METHODS
  From a sample of 119 patients consecutively evaluated in a specialized movement disorders outpatient clinic, we selected 21 PD patients without dementia or comorbid psychiatric conditions. Participants were assigned to three groups of seven subjects each who were treated with placebo, cannabidiol (CBD) 75 mg/day or CBD 300 mg/day. One week before the trial and in the last week of treatment participants were assessed in respect to (i) motor and general symptoms score (UPDRS); (ii) well-being and quality of life (PDQ-39); and (iii) possible neuroprotective effects (BDNF and H(1)-MRS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found no statistically significant differences in UPDRS scores, plasma BDNF levels or H(1)-MRS measures. However, the groups treated with placebo and CBD 300 mg/day had significantly different mean total scores in the PDQ-39 (p = 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings point to a possible effect of CBD in improving quality of life measures in PD patients with no psychiatric comorbidities; however, studies with larger samples and specific objectives are required before definitive conclusions can be drawn.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil INCT Translational Medicine (CNPq), São Paulo, Brazil Barretos School of Health Sciences - Dr. Paulo Prata, Barretos, Brazil mchagas@fmrp.usp.br mchagas@facisb.edu.br.
authors.forename: Marcos Hortes N
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Chagas
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil INCT Translational Medicine (CNPq), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antonio W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Zuardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vitor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tumas
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Márcio Alexandre
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pena-Pereira
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Emmanuelle T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Sobreira
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil INCT Translational Medicine (CNPq), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mateus M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Bergamaschi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil INCT Translational Medicine (CNPq), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antonio Carlos
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.affiliation: Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Investigação Médica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antonio Lucio
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil INCT Translational Medicine (CNPq), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jaime E C
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Hallak
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil INCT Translational Medicine (CNPq), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Alexandre S
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Crippa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood; D002185:Cannabidiol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003401:Creatine / Q000378:metabolism; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D066244:Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D011699:Putamen / Q000378:metabolism; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D002185:Cannabidiol; D001224:Aspartic Acid; C579455:BDNF protein, human; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D003401:Creatine
keywords: Parkinson’s disease; cannabidiol; cannabis; treatment