A randomized, double-blind clinical trial conducted at Buriram Hospital in Thailand found that daily sublingual cannabidiol (CBD) was safe for individuals with Parkinson’s disease and led to improvements in naming ability, an important aspect of cognitive function.
The trial included 60 Parkinson’s disease patients, evenly split between those receiving a CBD-enriched product and those given a placebo. The CBD product delivered approximately 26 mg of CBD and 1.2 mg of THC per day. After 12 weeks, 51 participants remained for analysis.
While the study found no statistically significant differences in the primary outcome—delayed recall on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)—those in the CBD group experienced a small but statistically significant improvement in naming scores. The placebo group, on the other hand, improved in language scores, while the CBD group did not.
No major changes were observed in anxiety, depression, inflammatory markers, or motor symptoms. One notable finding was an increase in alkaline phosphatase levels in the CBD group, though no serious side effects were reported.
The researchers concluded that CBD at 26 mg/day is well tolerated by Parkinson’s patients and may enhance naming ability, suggesting the need for further studies at higher doses using more targeted cognitive assessments.
