Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune central nervous system disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. In MS, the immune system attacks myelin that covers nerve fibers and leads to problems associated with communication between your brain and other parts of the body.
Definition
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune central nervous system disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. In MS, the immune system attacks myelin. that covers nerve fibers and leads to problems associated with communication between your brain and other parts of the body.1
Symptoms
Currently, there is no cure available to treat MS. However, treatments can provide modification of the disease course, manage symptoms, and improve recovery from attacks.
Many people suffering from MS have a relapsing-remitting disease course that involves periods of new symptoms or relapses that develop over a period of time and ameliorate partially or completely.
Signs and symptoms of MS can vary between people.1
Most symptoms are related to movement and vision and may include the following:
Movement symptoms
Vision symptoms
Other symptoms
Cause
Multiple sclerosis is believed to be an autoimmune disease even though the exact cause of its development is not yet known. This malfunction in the immune system leads to the fatty substance destruction that coats and insulates nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord.1
Factors that can increase the risk of MS are:
Preclinical studies and clinical trials have observed that THC alone or THC combination with CBD may be beneficial in the treatment of MS or symptom relief.2
Despite accumulating research supporting the potential of cannabinoids in the treatment of MS, more evidence is needed.3
Note: If you have any further information relevant to the connection between Multiple Sclerosis and cannabinoids, or find any of the information inaccurate, outdated or incomplete please contact us here.
In C57BL/6 mice, inflammation and neuronal demyelination were individually decreased by CBD and PEA (Rahimi et al., 2015).
However, anti-inflammatory and anti-demyelinating activities were shown to be decreased by co-administration of both cannabinoids, proposing antagonism between both cannabinoid pathways.
In a mouse model of MS, Sativex oromucosal spray (50% THC and 50% CBD) was compared with each phytocannabinoid alone to assess their effect. It was observed that motor deterioration was similarly reduced by CBD-BDS and Sativex, whereas THC-BDS exhibited a weaker effect. The effect of CBD was via PPARγ receptors while THC effect was via CB2 and primarily CB1 receptors (Feliú et al., 2015).
In the rat model of experimental autoimmune encephalitis / multiple sclerosis, it was found that CBD exhibits immunoregulatory activities through induction of CD4+CD25−CD69+LAG3+ cells in MOG35-55-activated APC/TMOG co-cultures (Kozela et al., 2015).
Gene profiling found that CBD exhibits its immunoregulatory activities in activated memory TMOG cells via inhibiting pro-inflammatory genes, T cell proliferation, and potentially T-cell memory while enhancing anti-inflammatory genes (Kozela et al., 2016).
In the Experimental Autoimmune Encephalitis (EAE) mouse model of Multiple Sclerosis, it was shown that daily use of a 1% CBD cream could exhibit neuroprotective activities against EAE (Giacoppo et al., 2015).
In several clinical trials, spasticity, muscle stiffness, neuropathic pain, etc. were treated by cannabis extracts or Sativex, a 50/50% mixture of synthetic THC and CBD in patients that did not show response to conventional treatment (Rog et al., 2007; Zajicek et al., 2012).
In an observational, prospective, multicenter, non-interventional study, symptomatic relief was achieved in 74.6% of patients upon treatment with THC/CBD mixture (Flachenecker et al., 2014).
However, it was also reported that not all cannabinoids may produce a therapeutic effect on the symptoms of MS (Ball et al., 2015; Centonze et al., 2009). Treatment with THC may produce some side effects including dizziness and nausea (Wade et al., 2006).
One meta-study concluded that muscle spasms and central pain were reduced by several cannabinoids (particularly THC and CBD), whereas no effect was seen in treating tremors associated with MS (Koppel et al., 2014).