Cannabidiol for managing agitation in Alzheimer's disease

Cannabidiol Medication Intervention Trial (CALM-IT)

This study is testing whether pure CBD capsules can help reduce agitation in people with Alzheimer's disease.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 40 (estimated)
• Ages: 55 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Academic / other)
• Locations: 5 sites (Calgary, Alberta and 4 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT06014424 on ClinicalTrials.gov

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.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are males and females aged 55 and older diagnosed with Major Neurocognitive Disorder due to possible Alzheimer's disease.

Not a fit: Patients with agitation due to causes other than Alzheimer's disease may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could provide a safer and more effective option for managing agitation in Alzheimer's patients, improving their quality of life.

How similar studies have performed: While there is ongoing interest in the use of CBD for various conditions, this specific approach to treating agitation in Alzheimer's disease is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.

Eligibility criteria

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 this trial is running

Calgary, Alberta and 4 other locations

• 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

Conditions Alzheimer Disease