CBD: A Natural Remedy that Decreases Parkinson’s Disease Symptoms?

Introduction: CBD as an Alternative to Pharmaceuticals

Natural alternatives to traditional medicine are becoming more and more accessible for people suffering the effects of Parkinson’s disease. One of these alternatives is cannabidiol, more commonly known as CBD. As you may know, CBD is a chemical component of the Cannabis plant that has positive medicinal effects but is not intoxicating.

Studies have shown that CBD products can relieve tremors and other symptoms of Parkinson’s. CBD is also gaining momentum as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, anxiety, and chronic pain. Studies are ongoing, but data indicates CBD has more potential positive effects than most people expected. Plus, while traditional medications may become less effective over time, CBD users are finding long-lasting benefits, and many have given up their pharmaceuticals for good.

Parkinson’s Symptoms

Parkinson’s disease is a disorder that affects the nervous system. Specifically, Parkinson’s damages and eventually kills the brain cells that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine, which impacts multiple functions including movement, memory, attention, motivation and emotion. This results in a variety of symptoms, including tremors, poor balance and, in some, dementia.

While Parkinson’s disease dementia and Alzheimer’s disease may appear similar, there are some key differences. Most notably, Alzheimer’s directly targets a person’s memory and ability to communicate, while Parkinson’s disease dementia is often associated with deteriorating problem-solving skills and thinking speed. In this regard, Parkinson’s dementia is similar to Lewy Body Dementia. To learn more about Parkinson’s disease dementia, click here.

Initial symptoms of Parkinson’s disease may be nearly unnoticeable and can include:

• Difficulty standing
• Lack of facial emotion
• Tremors (shakiness of one’s hands)
• Bradykinesia (slow movement)
• Balance issues

Problems walking are commonly seen in Parkinson’s patients, which has led to the term “Parkinson’s gait.” This is often characterized by a stooped posture, short steps that are more like shuffling of the feet (as if the individual is dragging them), and reduced arm movement or arms that do not swing when one is walking.

Patients with Parkinson’s may experience other issues over time that can include:

• Loss of smell
• Constipation
• Trouble swallowing
• Slurred speech
• Delusions
• Visual hallucinations
• Lack of judgment
• Difficulty concentrating
• Memory loss

Parkinson’s disease patients may also suffer additionally from depression, anxiety, apathy, irritability, pain and difficulty sleeping. Symptoms can change for many with Parkinson’s disease as they develop Parkinson’s disease dementia.

People with Parkinson’s disease and Parkinson’s disease dementia often seek treatment via prescription medications to alleviate the symptoms. Frequently these medications cause dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, dry mouth, loss of appetite, heartburn and more. The side effects of CBD, on the other hand, are mild and minimal.

Potential Benefits of CBD

Research has shown that CBD has many therapeutic benefits, and several of them can specifically help patients with Parkinson’s disease dementia. In general, Parkinson’s disease limits the body’s ability to produce dopamine. CBD, on the other hand, increases dopamine levels. Parkinson’s can also impact the ability of brain cells to receive dopamine, and research has shown that CBD can improve the health of these receptor cells, as well. In fact, cannabinoid receptors run throughout our body as part of the endocannabinoid system that helps regulate hunger, pain sensitivity, temperament, memory and more. All of these natural receptors can be affected in patients with Parkinson’s.

Part of the reason CBD is so effective as a dementia treatment is because it has has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties which make it a neuroprotective agent. When nerve cells in the brain and body are protected, problems with movement, memory and thinking are less pronounced, and they progress at a slower rate. These problems are some of the most common symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and Parkinson’s disease dementia. Anxiety can be another symptom of Parkinson’s, and CBD can help with that, too.

A group of Brazilian researchers studied the effects CBD had on Parkinson’s disease patients over the age of 60 during a public speaking test. Half of the patients received a 300 milligram dose of CBD before they spoke, the other half received a placebo. As you may know, public speaking is one of the most anxiety-inducing activities. However, the Parkinson’s patients who had the CBD showed fewer signs of anxiety (including tremors) during their public speech than the patients who only had the placebo.

In June 2018, the FDA approved a CBD-based medication for the first time, Epidiolex, which is used for treating epileptic seizures. Epidiolex was also administered to Parkinson’s patients and showed positive effects. The results of that study, which were released in 2020, showed that most participants with Parkinson’s saw improvement in motor function, sleep, behavior and emotional control.

A 2016 study done by the Salk Institute found that that CBD, and other cannabinoids (chemicals found in Cannabis plants), could help reduce dementia symptoms and increase connections between brain cells. The cannabanoids reduce the amount of amyloid beta, which is a toxic protein found in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias that kills neurons and causes inflammation, which contributes to memory loss and other cognitive issues.

The other documented studies that have echoed CBD’s benefits are:

• Researchers in Brazil stated, “Our findings point to a possible effect of CBD in improving quality of life measure in Parkinson’s disease patients.”
• Researchers with the Department of Neuroscience and Behavior found that, “preliminary data suggest that CBD may be effective, safe, and well-tolerated for the treatment of the psychosis in Parkinson’s disease.”
• In Colorado, researchers found that, “Cannabis was rarely used in our (Parkinson’s disease) population, but users reported high efficacy, mainly for non-motor symptoms.”
• A 1998 federally funded preclinical study showed strong antioxidant and neuroprotective properties in CBD and THC. These findings led to a U.S. patent on cannabinoids as antioxidants and neuroprotectants.

FDA Approval Under Consideration

Introduced to Congress in early 2021, H.R.841 would make hemp and its byproducts, including CBD, legal and labeled as a dietary supplement under the FDA’s protection and jurisdiction. This potential law is important for two major reasons. First, FDA approval is the key to making CBD more accessible to patients in all states and all care facilities. Second, FDA-approval could lead to CBD being covered by Medicare and private insurance companies.

Although H.R.841 was first presented years ago, it is still in the introductory phase.

Misperceptions & Myths

Myth: CBD makes you feel high.
Truth: CBD is not intoxicating and should not be confused with THC, the intoxicating cannabanoid usually associated marijuana. Both CBD and THC are known to have healing properties, and some researchers believe a combination of the two is very effective as a means of treatment. However, only THC produces a feeling of being high or stoned. CBD-rich cannabis usage does not have any mind-altering effects. This makes CBD a desirable option for those that do not want to feel high from THC or certain prescription drugs.

Myth: CBD is a regulated product.
Truth: CBD is not regulated by the federal government. This means there is no guarantee that labels stating how much CBD a product contains are accurate. A researcher at the University of Pennsylvania discovered that almost 70% of CBD products sold on the internet are under-labeled or over-labeled when it comes to the concentration of CBD within the product. Just 30% of the products bought contained a concentration of CBD within 10% of what the label indicated. For the best and most consistently produced CBD products, locally sourced medical CBD is recommended. These products are held to a higher level of lab testing for strength and impurities.

Myth: CBD is a sedative and reduces awareness or alertness
Truth: Even in high doses (600mg), CBD has not produced sedating effects in healthy humans. CBD usually makes humans feel more awake and alert without a negative impact on sleeping patterns. What is more likely happening is that cannabis strains being used by a patient that have high levels of CBD also contain a potentially sedating natural oil such as myrcene.

Myth: CBD is fully legal in all 50 states.
Truth: CBD is “conditionally” legal in 49 states and Washington, D.C. In many states, possession of CBD is only legal if it contains less than 0.3% THC, which is a federal guideline set by the 2018 Farm Bill. Many of these states also require users to have a medical reason and a prescription to use CBD. Idaho is even more strict and requires CBD to contain 0% THC. And CBD is still technically illegal in Nebraska, but it has been decriminalized. To find the legal status of CBD in your state, check our chart below.

Potential Risks of Use

According to the World Health Organization, “no public health problems… have been associated with the use of pure CBD.” That includes the potential for dependence or abuse, which is a destructive problem for most of the pharmaceutical alternatives. However, as with any new treatment, patients and caregivers should monitor the effects and outcomes closely.

The most commonly reported side effects of CBD are diarrhea, bloating and nausea. Some dementia patients have reported increased tremors with high doses of CBD. And about 3% of patients in studies reported liver problems and had to discontinue CBD use.

Forms of CBD Administration

CBD comes in many forms. They range in variety from being consumed orally, inhaled or absorbed into the skin. The most popular are:

• Vaporizer pen
• Gel caps
• Gummies
• Oil (applied on the skin or under the tongue)
• Patches (like Band-Aids)

Legal Status of CBD in the U.S.

CBD is widely available and can be found anywhere from local health food stores and tobacco shops to online retailers like Amazon. Because of this, its legality can be unclear. In 2018, hemp-based CBD containing less than 0.3% THC was legalized under federal law through the Farm Bill. However, the final say in CBD’s legality still belongs to the individual states.

The table below breaks down the different requirements by state for CDB’s legality.

How to Obtain CBD

CBD can be legally purchased over the Internet and delivered to all 50 states. One reputable seller is CBDPure. You can visit their website by clicking here.

CBD-rich medical marijuana can be obtained from a state-licensed dispensary. These dispensaries can be found by searching on any number of dispensary directories (Leafly, Yelp, etc.) or Google Maps. For those that have trouble with transportation, another increasingly available option includes delivery-based options. However, while convenient for senior patients, these options are not available in every city or town.

Insurance Coverage of CBD

Since health insurance companies only cover medications that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), most CBD products are not covered. The only exception is Epidolex, a drug that helps reduce epileptic seizures and has been approved by the FDA. If bill H.R.841, discussed above, or a similar bill becomes a law, then insurance companies will likely to start to cover CBD products.

However, when compared to the prices of alternative pharmaceuticals, patients and caregivers may still find that CBD-based products are a more cost-effective and safer option.

Medicaid and Medicare

Neither Medicaid or Medicare cover CBD products, or any Cannabis products, including medical marijuana. Any out-of-pocket costs one would incur purchasing CBD or marijuana for medical use will not count toward any deductibles under Part B or a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. If the FDA approves CBD, Medicaid and Medicare coverage could potentially change.

Veterans Benefits

The VA will not directly cover the cost of products containing CBD. However, there are VA pensions, such as the Basic Pension and Aid & Attendance (A&A) Pension, that provide veterans or surviving spouses with a monthly income. This money can be used for anything, which means theoretically that one could use it towards purchasing CBD products. Learn more about these pensions here.

Many CBD retailers provide discounts to veterans who might need help covering the costs of their products. It is possible for active duty and military veterans to receive savings of more than 50% from companies that deliver CBD nationwide.