Cannabidiol for managing agitation in Alzheimer's disease

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This clinical trial investigates the effectiveness of highly pure cannabidiol (CBD) capsules in reducing agitation among patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). It employs a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over design, where participants will receive either CBD or a placebo in two treatment phases. The study aims to assess not only the efficacy of CBD in managing agitation but also its impact on other neuropsychiatric symptoms, caregiver distress, and cognitive function. Participants will be monitored over a total of 23 weeks, including treatment and follow-up periods.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Males or females ≥55 years of age; female must be post-menopausal or must agree to comply with contraception requirements. Males should also abide by contraceptive requirements when the partner is a woman of childbearing potential. Acceptable methods of contraception include: combined (estrogen and progestogen containing) hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation, which may be oral, intravaginal, or transdermal; progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation, which may be oral, injectable, or implantable; intrauterine device or intrauterine hormone-releasing system; vasectomy of a female subject's male partner (with medical assessment and confirmation of vasectomy surgical success); bilateral tubal occlusion
2. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (DSM 5) criteria for Major Neurocognitive Disorder due to possible AD. Patients with Major Neurocognitive Disorder due to multiple etiologies (AD and vascular) will be included
3. sMMSE ≤24
4. Presence of clinically significant agitation based on the IPA definition at both screening and baseline
5. If treated with cognitive-enhancing medications (cholinesterase inhibitors and/or memantine), dosage must be stable for at least 3 months prior to study randomization
6. Availability of a primary caregiver to accompany the participant to study visits and to participate in the study. The primary caregiver must be sufficiently proficient in English to complete the required study assessments, as per investigator judgement and should spend at least 10 hours a week with the participant
7. Willing and able to provide informed consent and/or have a Substitute Decision Maker (SDM) provide informed consent on behalf of the participant

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Change in psychotropic medications less than the duration of 5 half-lives of the medication in question prior to screening (e.g., concomitant antidepressants or atypical antipsychotics) and any changes during study participation
2. Contraindications to CBs, e.g. allergies to cannabis and cannabis products, potential clinically important drug-drug interactions (e.g. strong CYP3A4 inducers/inhibitors, anticonvulsants)
3. Vascular disease, clinically important cerebrovascular disease or current uncontrolled cardiovascular disease (e.g. uncontrolled hypertension, ischemic heart disease, arrhythmia and severe heart failure, cardiovascular accident in the 3 months prior to Screening (V1)), as per investigator assessment
4. Clinically significant liver disease, as reflected by serum alanine aminotransferase or aspartate aminotransferase \> 2 x upper limit of normal (ULN), or total bilirubin \> 1.5 x ULN; The Investigator may decide to repeat the assessment to confirm criterion prior to screen failing the participant
5. Clinically significant impaired renal function at screening, as per investigator assessment
6. Currently meeting DSM 5 criteria for Major Depressive Episode Presence, or current substance dependence (excluding caffeine and nicotine) or history of other major psychiatric disorders or neurological conditions (e.g. psychotic disorders, schizophrenia, stroke, epilepsy)
7. Substance-Related Disorders (excluding caffeine and nicotine)
8. Clinically significant delusions and/or hallucinations (e.g. NPI-NH delusion/hallucinations subscore ≥4 or judgement of QI)
9. Reported use of marijuana or cannabinoid-based medications, products or supplements (botanical or synthetic) within 1 week prior to randomization
10. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) \< 90 mmHg or \> 150 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) \< 50mmHg or \> 105 mmHg at screening or baseline (prior to randomization) or a postural drop in SBP ≥ 20 mmHg or DBP ≥ 10 mmHg at screening

Where it's running

• University of Calgary
  Calgary, Alberta, Canada Recruiting
• London Health Sciences Centre
  London, Ontario, Canada Recruiting
• Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
  Toronto, Ontario, Canada Recruiting
• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
  Toronto, Ontario, Canada Recruiting
• Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences
  Whitby, Ontario, Canada Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Krista L. Lanctot, PhD — Sunnybrook Research Institute
• Study coordinator: CALM-IT Coordinating Centre
• Email: CALM-IT@sunnybrook.ca
• Phone: 416-480-6100

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.