Treating Huntington’s disease with CBD – Benefits & Effects

Huntington’s disease is an inherited disease that causes the breakdown or degeneration of nerve cells in the brain. This disease usually has a broad impact on a person’s functional abilities and often results in movement, cognitive (thinking) and psychiatric disorders.

Most people with Huntington’s disease typically develop signs and symptoms in their 30s or 40s, even though the disease may emerge before or after. When the disease develops before the age of 20, it’s called a juvenile Huntington’s disease. It should be noted that an earlier emergence of the disease often causes a somewhat different set of symptom, coupled with a faster rate of progression.

According to scientists, Huntington’s disease is caused by an inherited defect in a single gene. Individuals normally need only one copy of the defective gene to develop Huntington’s diseases because it is an autosomal dominant disorder. The truth is that, except for sex chromosomes, a person inherits two copies of every gene. A parent with a defective gene could therefore pass along either the defective copy of the gene or the healthy copy, and each child in such a family will have a 50 percent chance of inheriting the gene that causes this genetic disorder.

The most common signs and symptoms of Huntington’s disease include involuntary jerking and writhing movements, muscle problems, slow or abnormal eye movements, impaired gait, posture and balance, difficulties talking or swallowing, social withdrawal, insomnia, feelings of irritability, as well as frequent thoughts of death, dying or suicide.

So far, there isn’t any treatment that can alter the course of Huntington’s disease, but there exists certain medications, including antipsychotic drugs, tetrabenazine, antidepressants, as well as mood stabilizing drugs that can lessen both the physical and psychiatric symptoms. Moreover, certain therapies such as psychotherapy, speech, physical and occupational therapy can also improve the lives of people living with Huntington’s disease.

Research has suggested that CBD could slow down the progression of Huntington’s disease. CBD’s ability to lower the progression of this condition is linked to its interactions with the endocannabinoid system. This assertion can be explained by the fact that the development of Huntington’s disease is linked to a loss of cannabinoid receptors in the basal ganglia, which is an area in the base of the brain that is responsible for the coordination of movement.

Studies into the effect of stimulating the endocannabinoid system in people with Huntington’s have revealed that CBD could delay the progression of the disease with this respect. Moreover, CBD has neuroprotective effects on the brain and Huntington’s disease is reported to react positively with neuroprotective drugs. This assertion, therefore implies that CBD could equally have a positive effect on the disease as well.

According to scientists, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of CBD have also made it to be effective in protecting the neurons in the brain. There are actually indications that the manner in which cannabidiol interacts with the cannabinoid receptors in the brain could reduce the rate of damage to the neurons.

CBD also interacts with the endocannabinoid system to produce a wide range of therapeutic effects which are beneficial to people suffering from Huntington’s and other neurological disorders. According to many anecdotal evidences, CBD could potentially help people with Huntington’s disease cope with the symptoms. For example, CBD is also known as an anticonvulsant that could go a long way to reduce the uncontrollable movements that are often associated with Huntington’s disease.

Besides, CBD also has antidepressant properties, which could alleviate clinical depression that is commonly experienced with Huntington’s disease. Above all, as an anxiolytic, CBD can also help control anxiety and hyperactivity, which are equally symptoms of Huntington’s disease.

Although CBD can be consumed in many forms, including tinctures, vaping, and capsules, etc for the treatment for Huntington’s there is a need for thorough research to be conducted on the subject in a bid to affirm the definitive dosage.