CBD reduces anxiety and tremors in Parkinson’s patients

If you or a loved one suffers from Parkinson’s disease, you might be encouraged by a new study from Brazil that has found that CBD can calm nerves in anxiety-provoking situations – particularly symptoms associated with this debilitating condition.

The Brazilian researchers had previously found that CBD increases the emotional well-being and quality of life of Parkinson’s patients. This time, the team wanted to better understand how CBD might affect the anxiety associated with Parkinson’s.

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For the study, published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, researchers recruited 24 Parkinson’s patients. Half received 300 milligrams of CBD, while the other half received a placebo. While monitoring blood pressure, heart rate, and tremor rate, the scientists conducted a simulated public speaking test (SPST) 90 minutes after the CBD dose. (This model has been used to test anxiety symptoms in subjects for several decades.) Patients who received CBD experienced significant reductions in anxiety and tremors.

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“These observations suggest that CBD could be an alternative treatment for patients [Parkinson’s] and fear,” the researchers wrote. “Thus, chronic administration of CBD could be tested in future studies.”

The study represents the first randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial to focus on how CBD affects anxiety in Parkinson’s patients. Johns Hopkins University reports that up to 40% of Parkinson’s patients suffer from anxiety. As researchers write in the study, many patients are given medications to treat anxiety symptoms, which can cause a variety of side effects, including tremors and impaired cognition.

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However, the researchers wrote that it was “not possible to conclude whether CBD had a direct effect on the amplitude of tremors or whether reducing anxiety levels led to the observed differences.” This study will likely stimulate further research into how How does CBD affect Parkinson’s patients? In addition, it is a positive development for patients looking for a more natural replacement for medicines in the future.