A study recently published in the medical journal Neuron, has providing further information on how cannabidiol (CBD) works to potentially prevent seizures.
CBD is a non-psychoactive component of the cannabis plant, meaning that it does not cause the ‘high’ associated with recreational use of cannabis. In recent years, numerous studies have been carried out on the use of CBD treatments in drug-resistant epilepsies – many of which have showed positive findings.
This work led to the development of the only CBD-based authorised medication to date for treating epilepsy, Epidyolex, which Epilepsy Ireland successfully advocated to have reimbursed in Ireland in 2021. Epidyolex is currently licensed as an add-on treatment for rare epilepsies Dravet Syndrome & Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome – as well as Tuberous Sclerosis Complex.
However, the exact mechanisms as to why CBD can reduce seizures has never been fully understood. The study published in Neuron could offer a new explanation.
The study, which was conducted by researchers in the US, found that CBD acts as a blocking agent against a molecule called LPI (lysophosphatidylinositol). LPI has been found to strengthen nerve signals in the brain, which could lead to seizures. The study has also suggested that LPI could weaken other signals that help to prevent seizures. Therefore, when the CBD works to block this LPI molecule, it can help to prevent or reduce seizures.
In their news release, the study team state that “drug designers could inhibit the enzymes that underpin LPI production… as an additional approach to control seizures. LPI could also serve as a biomarker of seizures or predictor of clinical responsiveness to CBD, providing an area of future research.”
You can read the full study published in Neuron, by visiting the Neuron website.
The use of cannabis-based products and treatments in epilepsy continues to be a significant area of interest to those living with the condition. While evidence continues to grow regarding use of CBD based treatments and how they work, there is still a lot more research to be conducted on the use of medical cannabis as a whole in the treatment of epilepsy. For further information on this subject, you can visit the ‘Treatment’ section of our website.
If you need any information or support regarding your or a loved one’s epilepsy, please do not hesitate to contact your local Community Resource Officer. You can find their details by visiting the ‘Our Local Service’ section of our website.