Cannabis may improve cognitive function in people with cancer undergoing chemotherapy.
- In less than an hour, cannabis provided significant pain relief for people with cancer undergoing chemotherapy.
- Two weeks after consuming cannabis, patients reported improved sleep quality.
- Thanks to this reduction in pain, “the volunteers had the impression of having clearer ideas.”
Hair loss, nausea, diarrhoea, fatigue… These different symptoms are caused by chemotherapy drugs, which are mainly active on rapidly dividing cells. During and after this treatment, some patients have sleep disorders and suffer from “brain fog” or “brain frog” in English. This cognitive dysfunction is manifested by memory lapses, difficulty concentrating or a feeling of intellectual fatigue.
25 adults with cancer used cannabis for two weeks
Recently, scientists at the University of Colorado, Boulder (USA), discovered that cannabis can reduce some of these side effects, including those affecting the brain of patients. To reach this conclusion, they carried out a study, the results of which were published in the journal Exploration in Medicine. A total of 25 adults suffering from cancer and receiving chemotherapy took part in this work. They were asked to consume cannabis for two weeks. During three consultations, their pain levels, sleep habits and cognitive abilities were assessed. The volunteers also had to complete a questionnaire to assess their cognitive function.
Cannabis: “the more pain decreased, the more cognition seemed to improve”
According to the authors, in less than an hour, cannabis significantly relieved the patients’ pain but initially impaired their cognitive functions, while giving them a feeling of euphoria. After two weeks of consumption, participants reported an improvement in sleep quality and also in their cognitive functions, including reaction time. “Volunteers felt like they had clearer thoughts. As the pain decreased, the patients’ cognition seemed to improve,” explained Angela Bryan, author of the work, in a statement.
While more extensive research is needed before drawing any conclusions, the team says these findings raise a possibility. “While some forms and dosages of cannabis intended for pain relief may impair short-term thinking, others may improve long-term cognition by reducing pain.”
