More people than ever are using CBD oil for dementia these days.
Scientists have been researching CBD and other cannabinoids for many years prior to the CBD oil boom.
But now that hemp and CBD are legal under the 2018 Farm Bill, they can go all in and investigate the benefits of CBD for neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia.
In this article, we’ll dive specifically into the potential use of CBD for dementia and the collateral symptoms it may trigger over time.
On top of explaining the ins and outs of using CBD oil, we’ll also provide you with our industry overview, where we discuss the best brands that sell high-quality CBD products.
Let’s start with the latter.
Best CBD Oils for Dementia
1. Royal CBD (Best CBD Oil)
| Potency | 250 mg – 2500 mg |
| Available Flavors | Natural, Berry, Mint, Vanilla |
| CBD per serving | 8.3 mg – 83.3 mg |
Why Royal CBD is the Best CBD Oil for Dementia
Royal CBD is a California-based brand started by a group of cannabis activists with a mission to raise the quality standards for hemp extracts in the industry. This company offers premium CBD products from organic hemp that are available in traditional forms, from oil drops to capsules, gummies, and topicals.
The Royal CBD oil is available in four concentrations. You can choose between 250 mg, 500 mg, 1000 mg, and 2500 mg of total CBD. If you don’t like the natural taste of CBD oil, you can pick one of the four flavored options, save for the highest potency. The 2500 mg bottle is only available in the natural flavor because adding flavorings would compromise its potency and overall cannabinoid profile.
The 2500 mg is my best option for problems with concentration and high amounts of stress. The effects come relatively fast after ingestion — around 20–30 minutes — and the taste is actually pretty neutral because the CBD has been suspended in natural MCT oil from coconut. This is an extra benefit as MCT oil also makes CBD more bioavailable.
This strength also proved the most affordable for the long-term supplementation, lasting about three months in my case. However, I wouldn’t use it as a universal point of reference because everybody is different and so maybe your effective dosage.
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2. Gold Bee (Best Flavored)
Product Details
| Potency | 300 – 1200 mg |
| Available Flavors | Natural, Honey |
| CBD per serving | 8.3 mg – 33.3 mg |
About Gold Bee
Many people believe that all good things happen in California, and by looking at the second-best CBD oil for dementia in our ranking, we couldn’t agree more. Gold Bee has partnered with their local growers as well as farmers from Colorado to create their own blend of organic CBD-rich strains — making honey-flavored CBD oil.
The Gold Bee CBD oil is available in four different potencies, from 300 mg to 1200 mg CBD per bottle. Similar to Royal CBD, it’s a full-spectrum product, so you’re getting the whole range of phytocannabinoids, terpenes, and polyphenols naturally occurring in hemp plants. When it comes to stress and focus, I’ve experienced similar results to Royal CBD, but due to the lack of high-potency oils in their selection, I’ve run out of the oil much faster.
That’s why Gold Bee scores the runner-up title.
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3. CBDPure (Best Value)
Product Details
| Potency | 100 – 1000 mg |
| Available Flavors | None |
| CBD per serving | 3.3 – 33 mg/mL |
About CBDPure
CBDPure sells mostly low-potency CBD products, although it has recently added a 1000 mg CBD oil to its collection. It’s a nice nod towards those users whose daily dosage doesn’t exceed 30 mg of CBD.
This is the best company if transparency is your main priority. CBDPure broadly describes every detail of its activity, from the source of its hemp to extraction methods, testing, and customer service.
On top of that, I think this company should be the benchmark for the quality of full-spectrum CBD. I noticed that these oils are really effective at lower dosages, something I couldn’t say about many seemingly more potent products I’ve tried since I started taking CBD.
Similar to the other top two brands from our ranking, CBDPure tests all its product in third-party laboratories for potency and purity. And if you don’t feel satisfied with the results, the guys at CBDPure offer have a great 90-day return policy that allows you to return your order for a full refund.
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4. Hemp Bombs (Best CBD Isolate)
Product Details
| Potency | 125 – 4000 mg |
| Available Flavors | Natural, Acai Berry, Orange Creamsicle, Peppermint, Watermelon |
| CBD per serving | 4 – 133 mg/mL |
About Hemp Bombs
If you want a company that sells premium CBD oil made from isolate, Hemp Bombs will likely be your best bet. The company specializes in making 99% pure CBD oil in the entire potency range, with up to 4000 mg of total CBD.
This CBD oil is a decent alternative for people with dementia who are afraid of including any THC into their routine while receiving a very high dose of CBD in each serving. Full-spectrum products carry 0.3% THC or less, which isn’t enough to get the user high, but isolate means that there’s nothing but pure CBD.
Another benefit of using CBD isolate is the lack of odor and flavor, which makes it more versatile than full-spectrum products.
However, those using CBD isolate should be aware that there’s no synergy from other cannabinoids and terpenes, so this company may not be the best choice for people with dementia seeking the entourage effect in their supplementation.
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5. CBDistillery (Best Price)
Product Details
| Potency | 250 – 5000 mg |
| Available Flavors | None |
| Potency | 8.3 – 166 mg/mL |
About CBDistillery
CBDistillery is one of the pioneer companies in the CBD market. Started out as a small craft business, it quickly turned into a CBD powerhouse that sells one of the best CBD oils in North America at very affordable prices.
CBDistillery offers both full-spectrum CBD and broad-spectrum products labeled as “pure oil.” The pure oil version contains all the non-psychoactive cannabinoids and terpenes, but without any THC in the end product.
This company covers even more potency options than Hemp Bombs. You can choose from 250 to a massive 5000 mg of CBD per bottle. The strongest option carries 166mg of CBD in each mL, which is enough to get yourself supplied for months to come.
However, CBDistillery doesn’t use organic hemp for its products, which is why we’ve decided to give them the last place on our list of CBD oils for dementia. Nevertheless, it’s still one of the best companies in this price range, so I would definitely recommend it for beginners who want a high-quality product without breaking the bank.
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What is Dementia?
Dementia isn’t a disease in itself. Rather, it’s a group of conditions that compromise the performance of your brain.
Dementia is typically marked by the impairment of at least two important brain functions, such as memory loss or poor judgment. In fact, any form of dementia can lay a shadow over cognitive functioning.
There are several specific symptoms that can help diagnose dementia, including:
- Problems with coordination and motor functions
- Changes in personality
- Anxiety, depression, agitation, or paranoia
- Awkward behavior caused by hallucinations
- Problems dealing with complex tasks
- Difficulty with reasoning and problem-solving
Different Types of Dementia
As mentioned, dementia is a group of conditions, but as with any complex disease, there are a few distinguishable types of dementia:
- Frontotemporal dementia: this type causes the nerve cells in the temporal and frontal lobes of the brain to degenerate. Frontotemporal dementia causes problems with language skills, personality, and overall behavior.
- Lewy Body Dementia: also referred to as progressive dementia, Lewy Body Dementia is caused by the buildup of abnormal clumps of a specific protein in the brain.
- Vascular dementia: the second most common form of dementia, this condition stems from the damage in the blood vessels that limits blood supply to the brain and may cause vessel clogs, resulting in stroke.
- Mixed dementia: when this condition occurs, it means that a person has some combination of several forms of dementia, starting mainly with Alzheimer’s. While Alzheimer’s is more likely to occur in people over the age of 65, mixed dementia strikes upon its progression.
How Could CBD Oil Help with Dementia
There’s a myriad of studies pointing to CBD as the potential natural alternative to pharmaceuticals for many serious conditions, including dementia.
CBD is a potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotectant, so it may significantly enhance the brain’s performance, which is essentially deteriorating due to neurodegenerative diseases.
Before we cover the benefits of CBD oil for different types of dementia based on the latest research.
1. Alzheimer’s Disease
Studies show a clear connection between CBD and reduced inflammation as well as brain cell decline.
Inflammation makes the negative impact of Alzheimer’s disease even worse. It’s actually the main cause of this condition. The more inflammation is in your brain, the more serious the damage.
People with Alzheimer’s often show a path of fast decline and degeneration of neurons in specific brain regions. Scientists have recently concluded that CBD could improve the plasticity of the hippocampal region — the area of the brain that controls cognitive functioning and memories.
More interestingly, clinical trials have found that the endocannabinoid system plays an important role in neurotransmission, neurobiology, and neuropathology of different types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.
2. Frontotemporal Dementia
As the number of cells decreases in the brain’s frontal or temporal lobes, this can cause symptoms of psychosis and depressions. Contrary to many antipsychotic drugs, CBD can curb anxiety, panic, and rigidity without the side effects linked to pharmaceuticals.
3. Huntington’s Disease Dementia
Also referred to as Huntington’s chorea, this type of dementia is an inherited disease that triggers the degeneration of brain cells, resulting in typical symptoms of dementia.
The earliest symptoms of Huntington’s chorea manifest themselves as mild problems with mood and concentration. However, upon the progress of the disease, individuals may suffer from a general loss of coordination of unsteady walking motion.
According to a 2016 study conducted by researchers from the University of Madrid, CBD’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties can be beneficial for patients with Huntington’s disease and doesn’t cause dangerous side effects even at very high doses.
4. Lewy Bodies Dementia
Lewy Bodies’ dementia is caused by the buildup of the alpha-synuclein protein in the brain (Lewy Bodies). These clumps can result in problems with judgment, poor sleep, uncoordinated movement, and mood swings.
Studies have found that CBD can reduce anxiety and stabilize mood. Moreover, its anti-inflammatory properties can reduce the severity of motor impairments and help with maintaining healthy sleep cycles.
5. Parkinson’s Disease Dementia
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that mostly affects middle-aged and elderly people. Some symptoms of dementia may be caused directly by Parkinson’s — they’re known as Parkinson’s disease dementia.
Researchers suggest that Parkinson’s disease may stem from compromised dopamine production and is commonly expressed in tremors, slow, flawed movement, and muscular strains.
Impaired digestive homeostasis may also be a significant factor in the development of Parkinson’s and the severity of its symptoms. Cannabinoids such as CBD have shown the potential to act as neuroprotective molecules, and their antioxidant effects on the brain could be effective in the management of Parkinson’s-induced dementia.
6. Vascular Dementia
People who suffer from vascular dementia typically have problems with memory, judgment, planning, reasoning, and other cognitive processes due to brain damage from the lack of proper blood flow to their brains.
In a 2016 study published in the National Institute of Health (NIH), researchers found that the activation of cannabinoid receptors in the brain can help in the recovery of blood flow to the brain, suggesting that it can prevent the brain from being severely damaged.
What Experts Say About Using CBD Oil for Dementia?
CBD will be the subject of the first major clinical trial for dementia in the UK. Scientists are going to administer a CBD/THC oral spray Sativex to treat dementia patients.
Researchers will be examining the efficacy of Sativex, a drug already proven effective in patients with multiple sclerosis, by observing 60 patients aged from 55 to 90 who will live in care homes for the duration of the trial. The study is aimed at reducing agitation and aggression, the main symptoms of dementia.
Here’s what Dag Aarsland, a psychiatrist and the supervisor of the trial, says:
“Most often, people associate Alzheimer’s disease with memory problems, but this is just one aspect of a complex condition that can affect people in different ways. Many people with Alzheimer’s can become agitated or aggressive, and this can pose difficulties for the person with the condition and those closest to them.”
If this cannabis-based spray provides positive results in treating dementia, this can be a groundbreaking discovery for modern medicine considering how cannabis was demonized for the past few decades.
David Reynolds, Ph. D., of Alzheimer’s Research U.K. underlines the importance of finding a new medicine that will be both effective and safe for patients in the long run:
“With no new dementia treatments in over 15 years, it is vital that we test a wide range of approaches to find effective ways to help people living with the condition.”
Dr. Nathan Hermann, head of the geriatric psychiatry department at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Canada, follows the enthusiasms of his colleagues from the UK:
“Based on some preliminary studies in other populations, like younger individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, as well as animal studies, there is at least some reason to theorize these drugs would have a benefit.”
Sativex contains THC and CBD in a 1:1 ratio. CBD oil from hemp contains only 0.3% THC and there are no trials that would investigate the effects of this product on dementia symptoms. That’s why we recommend consulting your doctor before incorporating CBD oil into your daily routine for dementia.
How Much CBD Oil Should You Take for Dementia?
There’s no one-size-fits-all dosage when it comes to using CBD oil for anything, including dementia.
Various studies have been performed on the efficacy of different CBD doses for neurodegenerative conditions.
According to research from 2014, higher concentrations of CBD may be required for neurodegenerative diseases until the effects take hold.
Due to the lack of regulation in the CBD industry, the best thing you can do is start with lower dosages and experiment with different amounts of CBD oil for a specific period of time, monitoring the effects and adjusting the dose accordingly.
As more self-reports emerge from patients, doctors will be able to come up with some general thresholds for people with dementia in the future. If you want to contribute, you can report to a foundation or science institute that specializes in discovering new forms of dementia treatment.
Where to Buy CBD Oil for Dementia
Now that you know the benefits of CBD oil for dementia, it’s natural to ask where to find high-quality CBD oil.
There are two options: you can buy CBD oil locally or search for it online.
We recommend buying CBD online, and there are a few reasons for it:
- Buying CBD oil online is fast, easy, and safe
- When you buy CBD oil online, you have access to a wide range of products without leaving your house
- Buying CBD online allows you to do better research on a company you want to buy from.
- CBD products sold online are more affordable than those available locally
The main problem with local CBD stores is the price. Store owners must pay electricity bills, hire salesmen, and pay for the whole logistics behind getting the product on the shelves. This isn’t a problem with online stores; buying CBD oil online cuts out the middlemen.
Things to Look for When Choosing CBD Oil for Dementia
If you’ve never bought CBD oil, choosing from the abundance of different brands may be overwhelming. Let us help you out a bit.
Here are the key things to look for when buying CBD oil, both locally and online:
- Check the source of hemp: the hemp used for CBD extraction should be organic and come from local farms to ensure the high quality of the sourcing material. Hemp plants are bioaccumulators, meaning they easily absorb everything from the environment they grow in, hence the importance of soil quality and organic practices.
- Opt for CO2-extracted products: CO2 extraction provides the highest purity for CBD extracts because it doesn’t involve toxic solvents in the process. The equipment for CO2 extraction is very expensive, and so is the knowledge of highly-qualified staff that operates it. If a company offers CO2-extracted CBD oil, it means they want to invest in the quality.
- Choose full-spectrum CBD: full-spectrum extracts contain CBD, minor cannabinoids, traces of THC (0.3% or less), terpenes, and other phytonutrients from hemp. When suspended together in an extract, these compounds create the entourage effect, also known as the whole-plant synergy. This synergy enhances the benefits of CBD oil, making it more effective than broad-spectrum extracts or CBD isolate.
- Read lab reports: if a company has nothing to hide, it should provide a Certificate of Analysis from a third-party laboratory for its products. Third-party labs analyze the potency of CBD in the end product, scan its cannabinoid profile, and look for common contaminants. It’s the only way to ensure that you’ll get exactly what you pay for.
Key Takeaways on CBD Oil and Dementia
CBD is a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Both features make it a viable tool for the management of dementia and its collateral damage. Preliminary studies investigating the efficacy of CBD in treating dementia, as well as clinical trials, are positive about this potential. However, scientists argue that it is the combination of CBD and THC that makes cannabis extracts effective at targeting neurodegenerative diseases.
That’s why the full spectrum of cannabinoids is so important when it comes to alleviating specific conditions.
If you want to incorporate CBD oil into your daily routine, make sure your product comes from organic hemp and is third-party tested for potency and purity. We also recommend consulting a doctor about your plans to avoid potential drug interactions.
Do you know any success stories of people using CBD oil for dementia? Or maybe you can tell one first-hand experience? Share it in the comments below!