A pioneering researcher trialling cannabis for autism says one of his latest studies has produced “really exciting results”.
Israeli researcher Dr Adi Aran says his work is focused on understanding why cannabis compound cannabidiol (CBD) might work in autism.
Dr Adi Aran, the Israeli researcher looking at the use of cannabis for autism
The work looked at 93 people with autism compared to the same number of typically developing peers. The researcher hopes to submit his paper to a scientific journal.
World’s first study of cannabis for autism
Aran said: “We do have really exciting results, that I can’t share at the moment, that will be submitted (hopefully) to Molecular Autism.”
The researcher led the world’s first study of cannabis for autism. And earlier this year he published results from a study of CBD for behavioural problems in autistic children.
Based at the Shaare Zedek Medical Centre, in Jerusalem, the research on 60 children aged five to 18 found behavioural problems were “much improved” in 61 per cent of cases.
Earlier research on cannabis for epilepsy provided the impetus for Aran’s work.
Epilepsy and autism
Epilepsy and autism have close links. Experts estimate between 20 per cent and 40 per cent of people with epilepsy also have autism.
In June the US Food and Drug Administration approved the use of CBD-based medicine Epidiolex to treat the two rare epilepsies Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome.
And in the UK doctors will be able to prescribe cannabis-based medicine this autumn.
Aran is also taking part in other studies on cannabis in autism. One of these involves 150 children. He expects to obtain results by the end of the year.
Further study in 2019
He hopes to begin a further study on young adults in 2019.
In separate research scientists at King’s College London are investigating the impact of cannabis compounds on the brains of men with autism.
Related:
- Cannabis tested on men with autism
- Urgent review call for cannabis medicine
- US Army tests cannabis extract on autism
- Drugs agency halts cannabis treatments
Published: 11 September 2018
