Effectiveness of CBD Use in Treating Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Although scientists have made significant progress in treating various diseases in recent years, one specific condition still eludes them - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or ALS. Given that it is a neurodegenerative disorder, their goal is to focus on neural connections in the brain, which are also responsible for controlling motor functions.
Current treatment methods bring certain positive results, however, various alternative means are increasingly coming to the forefront, including CBD as a cannabinoid substance found in medical cannabis. What can it offer to patients with this condition?
What is ALS?
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a disease primarily affecting individuals aged 40 to 70. In patients, neurons responsible for muscle movement control become damaged. In practice, this means that the person gradually loses the ability to move not only limbs, but muscles in general - in advanced stages of the disease, they cannot swallow or speak. Although many are unaware, breathing is also controlled by muscles, which is why most ALS-related deaths are caused by respiratory problems or respiratory arrest.
Perhaps the most famous person who suffered from this disease was British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking. Motor neurons do not transmit signals to muscles, whose dysfunction leads to muscle weakness, and the patient is gradually forced to use a wheelchair. They are unable to perform many everyday activities independently, requiring assistance, which not only makes social integration difficult but also significantly impacts their mental state. How can we recognize if ALS is affecting us?
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