Multiple Sclerosis – Research on cannabinoids
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system that often leads to disability. The body’s immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the myelin sheath that protects and insulates nerve fibers. Myelin increases the speed of electrical impulses between the brain and the rest of the body and is essential for the nervous system to function normally. Loss of myelin causes these signals to become intermittent or interrupted.
The most common symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis include fatigue, difficulty walking, muscle spasms, numbness, weakness, vision problems, dizziness, bladder and bowel problems, pain, depression, cognitive and emotional changes. In rare cases, convulsions may occur.
The most common type of the disease is called Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS), characterized by daily or weekly incidence, which may present new symptoms, followed by periods of remission that can last months or years. It is common for patients diagnosed with RRMS to eventually transition to another stage called Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS), where the disease progresses, with or without recurrence. Other types include Primary Progressive MS (PPMS), characterized by neurological functions that progressively worsen over time, and Progressive MS with Relapses (PSMS), which presents a continuous progression, but with occasional relapses.
The cause of multiple sclerosis remains unknown, but it is known that the disease mainly affects women and individuals between 15 and 60 years of age.
There is no cure for the disease. Treatment includes administration of corticosteroids to reduce nerve inflammation and plasmapheresis (removal of plasma, or the removal of blood with separation of blood cells by centrifugation, replacing the plasma with Locke’s solution). These techniques can help control symptoms and potentially limit the progression of the disease.
Discoveries: effect of cannabinoids on multiple sclerosis
Research has suggested that cannabis may slow the neurodegenerative process of multiple sclerosis. Some studies have shown that cannabinoids are involved in regulating the immune system by interacting with receptors of the endocannabinoid system. Cannabinoids have already demonstrated that they can influence the inflammatory reaction and assist in neuroregeneration 7,13,22. In one animal study, cannabinoids demonstrated neuroprotective effects, reducing myelin damage caused by inflammation 23. Another study found that cannabinoids administered to animals with a model of multiple sclerosis reduced neurological impotence, improved motor coordination, and limited disease progression 8.
Cannabis can help patients with multiple sclerosis manage symptoms associated with the disease. It has also been shown to be effective in reducing pain, stiffness and muscle spasms 11,30. In another study, patients with MS experienced significant improvements in muscle spasticity and decreased sleep disturbances after four weeks of treatment with cannabis 19. A similar study found that patients with the disease experienced improvements in sleep and pain sensitivity after five weeks of treatment with THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol) 24.
There is evidence to suggest that cannabis may worsen cognitive problems in patients with multiple sclerosis. Patients with the disease who were habitual users of cannabis (found on the streets) had significantly lower results in cognitive function tests 10,21.
Recent studies on the effects of cannabis on multiple sclerosis
- Cannabinoids were effective in reducing neurological disability and disease progression in mice with an animal form of multiple sclerosis. Cannabinoids alleviate disease progression in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis, acting preferentially through anti-inflammatory effects mediated by the CB1 receptor. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0028390812000500)
- Four weeks of co-treatmentm cannabis led to significant improvements in spasms in MS patients. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, enriched design study of Nabiximols* (Sativex®) as add-on therapy in subjects with refractory spasticity caused by multiple sclerosis. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/wol1/doi/10.1111/j.1468-1331.2010.03328.x/full
- Five weeks of cannabis treatment significantly reduced pain and improved sleep in patients with multiple sclerosis. Controlled, randomized clinical study with cannabis-based medication for centralized MS pain.
(http://www.neurology.org/content/65/6/812.long)
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