Parkinson’s Disease and Medical Cannabis: The Facts
What is Parkinson’s Disease?
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological condition caused by the gradual loss of nerve cells in the parts of the brain that control movement.
These nerve cells produce dopamine, a chemical messenger that helps coordinate movement. As dopamine levels fall, people develop the main motor symptoms of Parkinson’s: tremor, muscle stiffness (rigidity) and slowness of movement (bradykinesia).
Parkinson’s also causes non-motor symptoms. These can include problems with sleep, memory and thinking, low mood and anxiety. For many people, these have just as much impact on daily life as the movement symptoms.
Parkinson’s disease becomes more common with age and is most often diagnosed in adults over 50. It is slightly more common in men than in women. As populations age, the number of people living with Parkinson’s worldwide is rising.
What are the Different Types of Parkinson’s?
“Parkinsonism” is an umbrella term for conditions that cause Parkinson’s-like symptoms. The main types include:
- Idiopathic Parkinson’s disease – the most common type, where the cause is unknown. The main symptoms are tremor, muscle rigidity and slowness of movement.
- Vascular parkinsonism – linked to reduced blood flow to the brain, for example after a small stroke. Symptoms can include problems with memory, sleep, mood and movement.
- Drug-induced parkinsonism – caused by certain medicines, such as some used to treat schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. It is not degenerative, and symptoms usually ease once the medicine is stopped.
- Dementia with Lewy bodies – a type of dementia caused by protein deposits in the brain, with some symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease.
- Multiple system atrophy (MSA) – a rare condition with Parkinson’s-like symptoms that also affects automatic body functions such as heart rate, blood pressure and sweating.
- Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) – another rare condition with Parkinson’s-like symptoms, plus additional features that set it apart from idiopathic Parkinson’s disease.
- Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) – caused by a build-up of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, which can lead to parkinsonism.
What Causes Parkinson’s Disease?
The exact cause of Parkinson’s disease is unknown. It develops when nerve cells that produce dopamine, in an area of the brain called the substantia nigra, are gradually lost.
The substantia nigra is part of the basal ganglia, a group of brain structures that help coordinate movement. In Parkinson’s, the brain also shows an abnormal build-up of a protein, which forms clumps called Lewy bodies.
Parkinson’s is most common in people over 50, but it can occasionally affect younger adults.
Is Parkinson’s disease hereditary?
In most cases, Parkinson’s disease is not directly inherited. Genetics can play a part in a person’s risk, but it is rare for the condition to be passed directly from a parent to their child.
What are the Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease?
The main symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are tremor, muscle stiffness and slowed movement, although symptoms vary from person to person.
Symptoms often start mildly – sometimes as a slight tremor in one hand – and are usually worse on one side of the body at first. As the condition progresses, other symptoms may develop, including:
- slowed movements and stiff muscles
- problems with posture and balance, which can lead to falls
- urinary symptoms and dizziness on standing, caused by changes in automatic body functions
- changes to speech, which may become slurred or quieter
- changes to handwriting
- problems with sleep, mood or anxiety
- fatigue and pain
- visual hallucinations
- problems with memory and thinking (dementia) in later stages
How is Parkinson’s Disease Diagnosed?
There is no single test for Parkinson’s disease. A diagnosis is based on your symptoms, medical history and a physical examination carried out by a specialist.
Parkinson’s can be difficult to diagnose at first, because early symptoms are often very mild. If the picture is unclear, or an atypical (Parkinson’s-plus) condition is suspected, a brain MRI or other scans may be used to help rule out other causes.
How is Parkinson’s Disease Treated?
There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, but treatment can help manage symptoms and keep people active and independent for longer. Treatment plans are tailored to each person’s symptoms, stage of the condition and individual needs.
Treatment options may include:
- Medication – including levodopa (L-DOPA) and other Parkinson’s medicines, which are the mainstay of treatment for movement symptoms such as tremor, stiffness and slowness.
- Physiotherapy – to help with mobility, strength, posture, flexibility and balance.
- Occupational therapy – to support everyday activities and help maintain independence.
- Speech and language therapy – to help with speech, communication and swallowing as the condition progresses.
- Surgery – such as deep brain stimulation (DBS), which may help some people when symptoms are not well controlled by medication.
- Medical cannabis – which may be considered for some people with ongoing symptoms such as pain, sleep problems, anxiety or muscle stiffness, when other treatments have not helped or are unsuitable.
How does Parkinson’s Disease Affect People?
Living with Parkinson’s disease can affect many areas of daily life. As the condition progresses, everyday tasks may become harder, and some people need more support to stay active and independent.
Parkinson’s can also have an emotional and social impact. Adjusting to a long-term condition, changes to routine and increasing care needs can affect confidence, relationships, work and overall wellbeing.
While there is no cure, many people manage well with a combination of medication, rehabilitation therapies, lifestyle changes and ongoing support. Connecting with others who understand life with Parkinson’s can also help. Community initiatives such as PD Buddy Connect, local support groups and patient charities offer the chance to share experiences, find practical advice and feel less isolated.
For some patients living with chronic symptoms that continue to affect their quality of life, medical cannabis may be considered as part of a wider treatment plan.
To learn more about the experiences of people living with chronic conditions, visit our testimonials page.
Medical Cannabis for Parkinson’s Disease
Medical cannabis may be considered for some people with Parkinson’s disease to help manage ongoing symptoms such as pain, anxiety, sleep problems and muscle stiffness. However, it is not a cure and may not be suitable for everyone.
Since 2018, specialist doctors working in private clinics in the UK have been able to prescribe medical cannabis to eligible patients.
Medical cannabis may be considered for people with Parkinson’s who have not had enough relief from licensed treatments, or who have found those treatments unsuitable because of side effects or other reasons.
The two most studied compounds in medical cannabis are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). These compounds interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, a network of receptors and signalling molecules involved in regulating functions such as sleep, mood, appetite and how we sense pain.Medical cannabis is not suitable for everyone, and, like all medicines, it can cause side effects. To help ensure it’s an appropriate treatment, every patient has a thorough clinical assessment before a prescription is considered.
At Curaleaf Clinic, specialist clinicians review your symptoms, medical records, treatment history and individual needs before deciding whether medical cannabis may be an appropriate option for you.
Research Regarding Medical Cannabis and Parkinson’s Disease
Research into medical cannabis for Parkinson’s disease is still at an early stage, and the current evidence is limited. Most studies so far are small or based on patients’ own reports, so firm conclusions cannot yet be drawn.
Data from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry (UKMCR) has shown changes in outcomes such as health-related quality of life, sleep, anxiety and pain among patients prescribed medical cannabis across a range of chronic conditions [5,6].
Because sleep problems, anxiety, chronic pain and reduced quality of life are common in Parkinson’s, these findings offer useful context – although they were not specific to Parkinson’s disease.
A 2017 study of people with Parkinson’s reported changes in mood, memory, fatigue and thinking among those using cannabis [3].
A wider review of the evidence concluded that more research is needed to understand the role of medical cannabis in Parkinson’s disease, including any effects on motor and non-motor symptoms [4].
Can I be Prescribed Medical Cannabis for Parkinson’s Disease?
Medical cannabis may be an option for Parkinson’s Disease when other treatments haven’t worked well. As NHS access is limited, many patients use private clinics, where prescriptions are provided by specialist doctors. If you’re interested in exploring medical cannabis for Parkinson’s disease, the first step is to complete our free online eligibility assessment, which only takes a few minutes.
You’ll be asked to share information about your symptoms, previous treatments, and medical records. Our clinical team will review your information and, if appropriate, invite you to book an appointment with a Consultant Neurologist or a Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine.
References
[1] Erga AH, Maple-Grødem J, Alves G. Cannabis use in Parkinson’s disease – a nationwide online survey study. Acta Neurol Scand. 2022;145(6):692–697. doi:10.1111/ane.13602.
[2] Diadhiou S, Maas BR, Schootemeijer S, et al. Natural health products for symptomatic relief of Parkinson’s disease: prevalence, interest, and awareness. J Parkinsons Dis. 2024;14(6):1257–1264. doi:10.3233/JPD-240102.
[3] Kindred JH, Li K, Ketelhut NB, Proessl F, Fling BW, Honce JM, Shaffer WR, Rudroff T. Cannabis use in people with Parkinson’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis: A web-based investigation. Complement Ther Med. 2017 Aug;33:99-104. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2017.07.002. Epub 2017 Jul 10. PMID: 28735833
[4] Kluger, B., Triolo, P., Jones, W., & Jankovic, J. (2015). The therapeutic potential of cannabinoids for movement disorders. Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society, 30(3), 313–327. https://doi.org/10.1002/mds.26142
[5] Erridge S, Salazar O, Kawka M, Holvey C, Coomber R, Usmani A, Daniyal M, Sinclair J, Brown A, Mackworth-Young CRS, et al. Clinical outcomes of patients treated with cannabis-based medicinal products for chronic pain conditions: Findings from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics. 2022;22(3):211–216.
[6] O’Sullivan SE, Stevenson CW, et al. UK Medical Cannabis Registry: An analysis of clinical outcomes of medicinal cannabis therapy for generalised anxiety disorder. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics. 2022;22(10):843–854.
