Many people with advanced dementia experience agitation, restlessness, or aggressive behavior.
They may pace back and forth, repeat the same actions, or become distressed without any obvious reason, according to The Sun.
Researchers say there are currently only a limited number of treatment options, and these can cause serious side effects.
They point out that agitation may be caused by damage to the brain, but also by confusion, anxiety, or side effects of other medications.
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Special medicine was tested
The study was conducted by the Medical University of South Carolina.
Researchers developed a liquid medicine containing the compounds THC and CBD, both of which are found in the cannabis plant.
The medicine was tested in 120 people with advanced dementia and severe agitation.
However, the researchers stress that the findings do not apply to cannabis products that can be purchased or used outside the healthcare system, as they do not have the same formulation or dosage.
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Promising results
After 12 weeks of treatment, only 24 percent of participants who received the medicine still showed signs of agitation. In the placebo group, the figure was 87 percent.
According to the researchers, nearly 90 percent of participants responded positively to the treatment.
The study therefore suggests that the cannabis-based medicine could become a new treatment option for treating agitation in people with advanced dementia.
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