New CBD Study in Children with Autism
CBD is among the most popular compounds found in the cannabis plant. It has been proven to offer several health benefits, including pain relief, stress and anxiety reduction, assistance in dealing with epilepsy, and more.
CBD has also been used to help aid symptoms in children with another common illness – autism. A study done in 2018 showed that CBD could be helpful in relieving extreme outbursts in autistic children. In this article, we will highlight another recent study on CBD and its positive impact on children dealing with autism.
CBD Oil and the FDA
Although cannabis is generally banned by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the department has approved CBD oil for treating epilepsy. Other medical benefits of CBD are being studied by the federal government, and advocates of cannabis for medical use are hopeful.
A UC San Diego Study
There is a recent study being conducted at UC San Diego where researchers are looking into how CBD compounds may help children who suffer from different stages of autism. The purpose is to identify if the cannabis compound can be of aid to decreasing problem behaviors in epileptic patients.
Pediatric neurologist and the principal investigator of this study, Dr. Doris Trauner, explained that it will not target mild behaviors that are a consequence of autism. Instead, this study will aim to find out if any of the aggressive behaviors associated with autism can be eased with CBD consumption.
Phases of the Study
There are currently two phases planned for the study: the first one is with thirty boys between 7 and 14 years of age. The second phase, which will begin later, will examine girls in the same age range. The lead investigator said that the reason for choosing the group of boys was that males are four times more likely to show symptoms of autism than females.
Researchers are conducting the study separately on boys and girls because they believe that both of them have unique endpoints, and what might be normal for one gender may be a severe case for the other.
What Will Happen During the Study?
Researchers are looking into severe cases of stereotypic behaviors, including persistent self-injurious actions. Such behaviors often hinder their basic life functions, making it difficult to live out normal, daily routines.
Participants will be selected based on their IQ, degree of autism, and several other tests to identify whether they are suitable for the study. Participants will also undergo different medical exams, including blood tests and electrocardiograms during the study.
Each participant will be given a small oral dose of CBD or a placebo for about eight weeks. After that, a four-week period free from CBD consumption will be observed to wash away all the previously consumed compounds. Once the CBD is flushed out of the users, the researchers will then provide participants with doses of whatever each participant was not initially given.
Dr. Trauner states that constant checkups will enable them to properly monitor if and how the consumption of the CBD or placebo affects the body. The results from this study will be highly beneficial for children suffering from autism’s effects.
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Visit us at MMJ Health today to see if you qualify for a card, and find out from our experienced and knowledgeable staff how the variety of products that we offer can help you.