Board Member in the News: Norman Relkin on Medical Marijuana Pills as Dementia Treatment
On May 13, 2015, Health Day featured commentary by Board Member, Dr. Norman Relkin on a new study showing medical marijuana pills may not be an effective treatment for dementia.
A small study found that individuals given medical marijuana pills experienced no better easing of agitation, aggression, and wandering than those given placebo pills. Considering the this new treatment’s potential, Dr. Relkin stated: “Right now, there are no medications specifically approved for these types of symptoms…the medications we use are all 'borrowed' from the armamentarium for other conditions that are similar to these dementia symptoms."
Norman Relkin, MD, is an Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology at Cornell University.
For more expert resources on dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, visit our Alzheimer’s disease center at InfoAging.org.