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Australian Dementia Sufferers To Be Given Cannabis In World First Trial

Australian Dementia Sufferers To Be Given Cannabis In World First Trial

It's hoped it could help the physical and mental symptoms of the disease.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Researchers in Perth have been given the green light to pursue a world-first trial that would give cannabis to people with dementia.

They're hoping to find whether the illicit substance can help those with the condition, either physically or mentally.

University of Notre Dame Researcher Dr Amanda Timler told Sunrise if they get the results they're looking for, then it could mean sufferers could take less medication than they currently do.

PA

The trial is expected to run for 14 months and will be operated out of Western Australia. They're looking for around 50 participants who are 65 years and older with mild dementia and are currently living in an aged care facility.

Dr Timler told the Channel 7 programme: "We think cannabis is going to help ameliorate behavioural signs and symptoms we see from dementia.

"It's one of those medications that will treat a number of symptoms compared with typically being diagnosed with dementia and taking a number of different drugs."

That's not the only trial that's underway at the moment that's looking into how cannabis can be beneficial.

PA

A medicinal trial exploring how weed can help veterans with PTSD is being coordinated by Cannabis Access Clinics in Australia and will run for one year.

Lead researcher Dr Sharron Davis said: "It can present itself in lots of different ways, so it's very difficult to find a treatment that is going to treat all of the symptoms of PTSD.

"We have to be able to show the Therapeutic Goods Administration that these people have tried everything conventional medicine has to offer."

Researchers are looking for 300 people across Australia to take part in the study.

According to the Aussie Department of Veterans Affairs, between five and 10 percent of the regular community will develop PTSD at some point in their life, while veterans are between five and 20 percent likely.

The DVA recognises that a third of people greatly benefit from therapy services, the second third requires longer treatment and the last third are unlikely to benefit significantly.

It's hope that this trial will address that last third of people who feel they have nowhere else to turn.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: News, Australia