Huntington's Disease

Understand how medical marijuana helps with Huntington's Disease.

Medical marijuana can help relieve some of the symptoms associated with Huntington's Disease (HD). Huntington's diseaseis a genetic disorder that causes the gradual breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. This leads to a decline in movement, memory, thinking, and mood. 

Symptoms 

• Uncontrollable movements: Also known as chorea, these movements can affect the face, hands, feet, and torso. They can worsen when the person is nervous or distracted.

• Cognitive decline: Difficulty learning, remembering, focusing, and multitasking.

• Emotional changes: Mood swings, irritability, depression, and personality changes.

• Physical changes: Difficulty walking, swallowing, and speaking, as well as balance and posture problems.

Causes

• HD is caused by a genetic variant of the HTT gene. 

• It's inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, meaning that one copy of the altered gene is enough to cause the disease. 

• If a parent has HD, their child has a 50% chance of developing it. 

Initial Treatment 

• There's no cure for HD, but there are treatments to help manage symptoms.

• Treatments include medications, counseling, physical and occupational therapy, and speech language pathology.

Prognosis

• HD is a progressive disease, meaning symptoms get worse over time. 

• The average lifespan after diagnosis is 10 to 30 years

Medical marijuana can help with Huntington's Disease?

THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis, may help with symptoms of Huntington's disease (HD). THC binds to receptors in the brain that control mood, cognition, and muscle coordination. 

Potential benefits of THC for HD

• Reducing jerky movements: THC may help reduce chorea, or jerky movements, associated with HD. 

• Improving mood and sleep: THC may help improve mood and sleep.

• Stopping seizures: THC may help stop seizures.

• Improving cognitive abilities: THC may help improve cognitive abilities. 

• Counteracting medication side effects: THC may help counteract side effects of medications taken for HD.

Research on THC and HD

• One study found that participants who took a CBD and THC derivative called Sativex experienced improved cognitive abilities and quality of life.

• A systematic review of 22 studies found that medical marijuana may have significant benefits for patients with HD.

• Some research suggests that medical marijuana can help delay the development of the disease. 

Other cannabinoids and HD

• CBD is found to have a neuroprotective effect on the brain.

• CBG, another cannabinoid found in medical marijuana, may improve motor deficits in mice with neurological effects similar to Huntington's Disease.