Microdosing THC for Dementia

While there is no cure for dementia, recent studies have shown the beneficial effects of medical cannabis in managing symptoms. Can microdosing THC help dementia?

An estimated 6.5 million Americans older than 65 are living with Alzheimer’s, a 2022 study found. Dementia researchers with the Alzheimer Society Research Program have conducted clinical trials to see how medical cannabis helps manage behavioral symptoms of dementia—like agitation and aggression.

Cannabinoid microdosing is also associated with cognitive and behavioral improvement in patients with mnemonic and non-mnemonic Alzheimer’s disease.

In our extensive guide on microdosing THC, you can read about how microdosing THC helps:

• Alleviate chronic pain with cancer patients
• Alleviate symptoms of migraines
• Reduce inflammation
• Relieve muscle tension and seizures
• Reduce stress and anxiety
• Improve sleep
• Treat depression and other mood disorders

Read more about the benefits of microdosing THC.

Thinking of trying to microdose THC for Alzheimer’s? Our THC gummies are the perfect way to unwind! They contain 0.3% hemp-derived THC by dry weight, making these gummies legal, safe, and all-around awesome.

How Does Cannabis Help with Dementia?

Dementia covers a range of neurological disorders and changes in brain functioning. Dementia includes the following conditions:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Mnemonic and non-mnemonic Alzheimer’s disease
• Vascular dementia
• Frontotemporal dementia

Dementia is caused by damage to or degeneration of brain cells, leading to a decline in cognitive functions. Recent studies offer encouraging results on microdosing medical cannabis to improve cognitive functions and treat symptoms of dementia.

Onset dementia is characterized by:

• Memory loss and confusion
• Difficulty speaking, understanding, and expressing thoughts
• Acting impulsively
• Experiencing delusions or paranoia
• Balance and movement issues
• Irritability and violent behavior

Patients suffering from dementia have reported that cannabis helps with pain relief, increased appetite, and an overall sense of calm. Elderly patients with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia have benefited from THC-rich cannabis extracts, citing reduction of medication consumption, weight gain, and sleep improvement.

Dementia researchers often focus on the most common change in behavior in patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia: a decrease in agitation and aggression. Existing anti-aggression medications come with harmful side effects, but cannabinoids interact with the body in a gentler way.

According to research published in the Nature Medicine journal, low doses of THC-rich cannabis extract can restore memory and learning levels in mice. Microdosing delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta 9 THC) reversed age-related decline in mice aged 12 and 18.

Microdosing cannabis may also be helpful in treating vascular dementia, a neurodegenerative disorder that often accompanies Alzheimer’s. Vascular dementia involves inadequate flow to brain cells, resulting in atrophy and decay. By interacting with CB2 cannabinoid receptors in the endocannabinoid system, microdoses of cannabis extracts stimulate blood flow to the brain.

How Does THC Affect the Brain?

When tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) enters our system, it binds to CB1 and CB2 receptors, two main cannabinoid receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system. A complex network of signals and receptors, the endocannabinoid system (ECS) regulates a variety of functions and processes in our body like mood, sleep, appetite—and memory.

Cannabinoid receptors are found in most of our tissues and organs, but are particularly abundant in the brain. When CB1 and CB2 receptors interact with delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta 9 THC), a number of changes occur.

• Mood
• Consciousness
• Appetite
• Motor control
• Memory processing

Cannabis extracts in microdoses ameliorates symptoms of dementia without negative side effects. Also, low doses of THC don’t cause the signature “high” that most people associate with cannabis consumption.

Growing evidence suggests that during the Alzheimer’s disease progression, a dysfunction in the endocannabinoid system occurs. THC regulates synaptic transmissions and promotes neuroprotection in the endocannabinoid system.

Similarly, cannabidiol (CBD) inhibits endocannabinoid degradation with its anticonvulsant and anxiolytic effects. It reduces epileptic seizures, soothes neuropathic pains, and prevents anxiety symptoms.

However, it is the combination of both phytocannabinoids, THC and CBD, that produces optimal benefit for dementia sufferers. A recent review of the effects of cannabinoid extracts in microdoses concluded that CBD could potentially suppress the main causal factors of Alzheimer’s disease by activating protective anti-neuroinflammatory receptors. The review also found that combinations of CBD and THC are more effective than THC alone.

Many of our nama CBD edibles, such as THC gummies with CBD, combine multiple cannabinoids for the so-called entourage effect.

Our Delta 9 edibles happen to have the perfect combo of THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids. They contain 0.3% Delta 9 THC on a dry weight basis and are derived from hemp. In other words, they are federally legal because they comply with the conditions of the 2018 Farm Bill.

What Research is Available on Cannabis and Alzheimer’s Disease?

A medical case study published in the Journal of Medical Case Reports reviews the case of a 75-year-old patient who successfully managed his Alzheimer’s disease symptoms with microdosing cannabis.

Under the supervision of an international team of investigators, the patient began to take low doses of cannabis extract. The patient’s scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog) assessments improved in the following months.

The patient improved significantly after continued use of low doses of THC. Extracts used in the trial contained a ratio of CBD and THC of 8-to-1, with the daily dosage never exceeding 1 mg of THC.

The patient also reported improvements in mood and behavioral issues, most notably a reduction in mood swings and aggressiveness. Forty-two months after the initial treatment, the patient was still reporting no disease progression.

Further clinical trials are needed to confirm these observations, due to a general lack of research on the effects of cannabis.

Can Microdosing THC Cause Dementia?

Studies on the effects of cannabinoids on the human brain show a surprising conundrum. THC appears to have a negative effect at high doses and a positive effect at low doses.

Excessive doses of THC can potentially impair cognitive functions, but the impairment depends on the age a person began using, as well as the duration period. Some studies suggest that excessive marijuana use in adolescence is associated with decreased brain functions—memory, learning, and impulse control.

Microdosing THC comes with no adverse effects, and instead seems to improve brain health. Microdosing beginners usually start with 1-2 mg of THC and gradually increase the dosage over time. Always start small in order to be able to function normally in everyday activities without the buzz or any other unwanted side effects.

Can CBD Oil Help Dementia Patients?

Alzheimer’s disease causes a protein called amyloid to build up in the brain. Some studies have shown that medical cannabis appears to remove amyloid from nerve cells grown in the lab.

Both THC and CBD oils were administered to mice with symptoms of Alzheimer’s in one such study. The subjects showed less amyloid accumulation in the brain, indicating that CBD oil and lower doses of THC are dementia-friendly.

Research suggests that higher concentrations of CBD oil could successfully manage some symptoms of dementia—like agitation and anxiety.

See our guide to the differences between THC and CBD for more info on the two cannabinoids.

Can CBN Oil Treat Dementia?

Although more research is needed, current studies suggest that CBN has beneficial effects for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Cannabinol (CBN) is one of more than a hundred cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. Just like THC and CBD, CBN interacts with the endocannabinoid system—but unlike THC, CBN does not have any psychoactive effects.

When extracted from the cannabis plant, CBN oil is pure in form. When combined with other cannabinoid extracts, CBN’s effects are enhanced. In the entourage effect, CBN oil is said to have sedative properties.

Our CBN gummies are infused with high-quality CBN and hemp-derived CBD to provide all the benefits of a good night’s sleep.

Research at Salk University for Biological Studies reveals an important role CBN plays in protecting brain cells from neurodegenerative processes. During the aging process, mitochondria become dysfunctional or inefficient; a predicament especially pronounced in neurodegenerative diseases. CBN seems to bolster mitochondria and preserve mitochondrial function.

Other potential CBN benefits include:

• Neuroprotective agent in delaying the onset of ALS
• Appetite stimulant
• Anti-inflammatory
• Pain reliever

What are the Effects of CBD Oils on Sundowning?

Patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and sundowning symptoms report restlessness, irritability, night agitation, and disturbed sleep. CBD seems to be highly effective in treating various types of dementia that lead to sundowning symptoms and insomnia.

CBD also helps dementia patients—particularly “sundowners”—by enhancing the health of the brain cells located in the areas that are concerned with formation and reconsolidation of memories (PC12 neuronal cells).

Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, CBD also promotes the endocannabinoid system. This causes ECS to further enhance the body's natural defenses against any degenerative changes due to brain aging. In addition, CBD oils appear to improve cognitive abilities in people experiencing the sundowning syndrome and mitigate symptoms of agitation, confusion, and stress caused by confusion during sundowning episodes.

Delta 8 and Alzheimer’s disease

New research has emerged on the impact of Delta 8 THC on Alzheimer’s disease. Delta 8 THC seems to increase the levels of acetylcholine in the brain. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in sustaining memory and learning, and in the overall mental health.

Other potential benefits of Delta 8 THC include:

• Improving behavioral problems associated with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, most notably agitation and aggression
• Suppressing nausea with cancer patients
• Stimulating appetite

Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta 8 THC) is a THC compound found in the cannabis plant. The main difference between Delta 8 and Delta 9 is that Delta 8 produces milder euphoric effects than Delta 9.

Interestingly, research has been conducted about Delta 8’s specific role in treating nausea with children aged 3-13 suffering from cancer. Patients that were given small doses Delta 8 THC were able to fight off feelings of nausea and vomiting without experiencing any psychoactive effects.

Try our nama CBD Delta 8 THC Gummies. They contain 12.5 mg of Delta 8 THC and taste delicious.

Is Delta 8 legal?

Delta 8 THC is federally legal if derived from hemp and if the product contains no more than 0.3% of Delta 8 per dry weight. Despite federal legality, some states choose to ban Delta 8 THC outright.

As of 2022, fourteen US states have made Delta 8 THC illegal:

• Alaska
• Arkansas
• Arizona
• Colorado
• Delaware
• Iowa
• Idaho
• Kentucky
• Montana
• Mississippi
• New York
• Rhode Island
• Vermont
• Utah

What are the Best Microdosing Edibles for Dementia?

You’re going to LOVE our selection of edibles, but your (or your loved one’s) dementia won’t. All nama CBD gummies are 100% vegan, 100% premium hemp-derived, and 100% legal across the US. They are pure American-grown hemp extracts, contain only natural ingredients and no artificial flavorings and colors!

Here are our best microdosing edibles for mitigating symptoms of dementia:

• Delta 8 THC gummies contain 12.5 mg of 100% hemp-derived Delta 8 THC to induce just the right amount of elevation without getting high. With the flavor of passion fruit and wild peach, microdosing weed has never tasted sweeter!
• Bliss Delta 9 THC gummies are fruit-filled edibles packed with equal amounts of THC and CBD (5 mg each). They’re excellent for activating those little gray cells and coping with stress.
• Need more relaxation? Containing 25 mg of CBD and a microdose of 5 mg of THC, Relax Plus gummies are the embodiment of the THC-CBD synergy. Relaxation and light buzz are guaranteed.
• Melatonin gummies, containing 25 mg of CBD and 2 mg of THC, with a 3 mg-melatonin kick to them, are the perfect fusion of everything you need to get your eight-hour-sleep every night. Also—blueberry lavender. Need we say more?

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