Positive Effects of Marijuana on Tourette Syndrome

Cannabis, both in its marijuana form and in other, is a psychoactive substance whose effects generate great controversy at a social level. In addition to being one of the drugs most used by young people, it poses a health risk by increasing the risk of psychotic breaks, lung problems, and even some types of cancer. It also decreases impulse control and in the long term causes reductions in the frontal lobe.

However, it has been found that its mechanisms of action can be of great help to alleviate the symptoms of some diseases and disorders, such as Parkinson's. A recent study reveals that Marijuana use may have beneficial effects on Tourette syndrome.

• Related article: "Tourette syndrome: what is it and how does it manifest itself?"

cannabis and marijuana

Marijuana is one of the various presentations given to cannabis, resulting from the chopping and crushing of the leaves and stem of the plant in question. Both marijuana and cannabis in general are psychoactive substances known and used since antiquity, initially having a stimulating effect to go on to generate states of relaxation, anesthesia and analgesia. It also causes an increase in hunger and in some cases perceptual alterations.

Although it is currently used primarily recreationally, cannabis can have medicinal uses that can contribute to improve the symptoms and reduce the pain derived from different diseases and disorders. Despite this, its consumption must be done in a regulated manner since it can generate different health problems and have both short and long-term effects.

Some of the cases in which cannabis is used medically are for example the reduction of pain and discomfort in cases of tumors and the effect of chemotherapy, some types of epilepsy or the one discussed in this article, Tourette's syndrome.

• Related article: "Marijuana: science reveals its long-term effects on the brain"

Tourette's syndrome

Tourette syndrome is a neuropsychological disorder that begins in childhood and is included within tic disorders. It is characterized by the appearance of intermittent tics for more than a year that include one or more motor tics and at least one vocal tic that may or may not appear together.

The tics of these subjects lead them to carry out small jerky movements, often in the extremities, neck, mouth and eyes. With regard to vocal tics, the presence of coprolalia is very frequent, issuing insults and swear words involuntarily. These tics can appear both during the day and during sleep (especially in REM), which is disturbed. also appears an increase in disinhibition, aggressiveness and obsessive symptoms.

It is also common for patients with this problem to present a high level of anxiety and discomfort, as well as self-injurious behaviors. Not being able to control their tics, their anxiety increases even more and they sometimes withdraw or are socially rejected for it.

The causes of this disorder are not entirely known., although the existence of alterations in the basal ganglia and the frontal cortex or their interconnection has been reflected, both elements being linked to behavior control.

• You may be interested in: "Super Taldo: the famous case of the Chilean child with Tourette Syndrome"

Cannabis and Tourette: effects observed in treatment

An investigation has recently been carried out in Toronto in which the possibility has been explored that the consumption of cannabis or any of its components may reduce nervous tics typical of patients with Tourette syndrome.

For it a marijuana-based treatment was administered to nineteen patients with this disorder, observing the results afterwards. Tics decreased in 60 percent of cases, with eighteen of the nineteen participants noting a high level of improvement. In addition, the level of tension and anxiety typical of individuals with this disorder was reduced.

However, in a large part of them, the administration of cannabis had side effects, mostly a decrease in the ability to concentrate and an increase in drowsiness.

Both in this and in other experiments it seems that cannabis has an effect that decreases the activation of involuntary tics. On the other hand, the same effect has also been seen in other symptoms, such as obsessiveness, anxiety and irritability that these people tend to suffer are reduced (although other studies have reflected results opposite). These are 4 beneficial effects with which this substance could improve the quality of life of patients with this disorder through drugs based on this active ingredient.

These results are largely explained by the presence of cannabinoid receptors in the basal ganglia, structures that in patients with Tourette syndrome have altered functioning.

more research is needed

Although the data reflected by this study are promising, it must be taken into account that it has been carried out with a very limited sample (of nineteen people), with which the observations obtained should be verified in new studies. Likewise, the possibility of complications not observed during the investigation must also be taken into account. Nor has a control group been used, so the evidence cannot be contrasted with other patients who were given a placebo.

Nevertheless, the conclusions of this study could serve to open a path that would allow the creation of medication derived from cannabis that would allow the reduction of the symptoms of this syndrome.