Geriatric Mental Health Research Services at CAMH is part of a research study exploring the potential of a pre-existing drug to treat agitation in people living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), called the Nabilone for Agitation Blinded Intervention Trial (NAB-IT).
Agitation affects up to 60% of people with Alzheimer’s disease. Symptoms can include emotional distress, aggression, and impulsiveness. People who experience agitation may get anxious or upset easily, and they might be restless, unable to sleep or pace back and forth. These symptoms can be challenging for people experiencing them as well as their family and friends.
Current treatment options for agitation in Alzheimer’s disease are limited. Treatment options using medications typically rely on drugs such as antipsychotics that, although effective, can pose other increased health risks when used regularly. The NAB-IT study will look at the effectiveness of nabilone, a medication which is based on one substance in cannabis (marijuana). Nabilone is already approved by Health Canada for managing severe nausea and vomiting in patients receiving chemotherapy. NAB-IT is a follow-up to an earlier study that found nabilone improved agitation, behavioural symptoms, and caregiver distress in a smaller group of participants.
NAB-IT is designed to take 9 weeks from start to finish, and participants will be randomly assigned to receive either nabilone or a placebo for the duration of the study. In addition to looking at agitation, the researchers will also look at whether participants will benefit in other ways, including overall behavioural symptoms, caregiver distress, thinking and memory, nutritional status, and pain.
NAB-IT is currently looking for individuals who:
- Are 55 years of age or older
- Have a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease
- Have agitation
- Have a caregiver to accompany them to study visits and co-participate in the study
Study visits occur every 2 weeks during the 9-week treatment period. These visits will take place on-site at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health or an affiliated outpatient facility. Some assessments or questionnaires can be completed remotely (over phone or computer videoconferencing).
CAMH study investigator
Contact
To learn more about the study or find out how to join, please contact the CAMH Geriatric Mental Health Research team at (416) 583-1350 or research.gmhs@camh.ca.