Authors : Vin Nguyen

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 4 - April

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/5n7pesmk

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/46z2t5xt

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25apr1989

Google Scholar

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Note : Google Scholar may take 15 to 20 days to display the article.

Abstract : Medical cannabis, with its complex array of cannabinoids, has emerged as a potential therapeutic avenue for managing the multifaceted symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). This review article synthesizes current evidence regarding the effects of medical cannabis on both motor and non-motor symptoms of PD, examining its potential to alleviate these burdens and its ethical implications for use in this vulnerable population. The review further explores the theoretical and preliminary evidence for cannabis's role in potentially mitigating or delaying the need for deep brain stimulation (DBS) or complementing its effects. A dedicated section delves into the interaction of cannabinoids with the endocannabinoid system in the brain and its relevance to PD pathology, motor skills, and functionality. While acknowledging the limitations of current research, this paper highlights the potential of cannabis to modulate the endocannabinoid system and impact PD symptomatology, emphasizing the need for rigorous ethical considerations and further scientific investigation.

Keywords : Parkinson's Disease, Medical Cannabis, Deep Brain Stimulation, Ethics, Motor Symptoms, Non-Motor Symptoms, Endocannabinoid System, Alternative Therapy, Adjunctive Therapy, Basal Ganglia.

References :

1. Carroll, C. B., Bain, P. G., Teare, L., Liu, X., Joint, C., Kingdom, J., ... & Wright, D. J. (2004). Cannabis for dyskinesia in Parkinson disease: a randomized, controlled, crossover trial. Neurology, 63(7), 1245-1250.
2. Frankel, J. P., Hughes, P., Lees, A. J., Stern, G. M., & Carroll, C. B. (2007). Smoked cannabis for levodopa-induced dyskinesias in Parkinson's disease: a phase II, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Movement Disorders, 22(14), 2239-2242.
3. Lastres-Becker, I., Cebeño, M. A., Zamarbide, G., Gómez-Cañas, M., Fernández-Ruiz, J., & Ramos, J. A. (2005). Neuroprotective effect of WIN-55, 212-2 in a rat model of Parkinson's disease: influence of CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors. European Journal of Neuroscience, 22(10), 2649-2656.
4. Leweke, F. M., Piomelli, D., Rizzo, V., Diehmelt, M., Müller, D. J., Manahan-Vaughan, D., ... & Koethe, D. (2012). Cannabidiol induces transient normalization of aberrant functional connectivity in schizophrenia. Biological Psychiatry, 72(3), 205-211.
5. Pisani, V., Calabresi, P., Tozzi, A., Borrelli, E., & Martella, G. (2005). The basal ganglia and cannabis: implications for movement disorders. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 81(4), 762-768.
6. Sieradzan, K. A., Fox, S. H., Hill, M., Dick, J. P., Crossman, A. R., & Brotchie, J. M. (2001). Cannabinoids reduce levodopa-induced dyskinesia in Parkinson's disease: a pilot study. Neurology, 57(11), 2108-2111.
7. Zuardi, A. W., Crippa, J. A. S., Hallak, J. E. C., Moreira, F. A., & Guimarães, F. S. (2009). Cannabidiol for the treatment of psychosis in Parkinson's disease. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 23(8), 979-983.