nabilone and Cognition-Disorders

Pilot study of nabilone in Huntington's disease (HD). Double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study of nabilone versus placebo. Primary outcome, Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS) total motor score. Secondary measures: UHDRS subsections for chorea, cognition and behavior, and neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI). 44 randomized patients received either nabilone (1 or 2 mg) followed by placebo (n = 22), or placebo followed by nabilone (n = 22). Recruiting was straightforward. Nabilone safe and well tolerated, no psychotic episodes. Assessment of either dose of nabilone versus placebo showed a treatment difference of 0.86 (95% CI: -1.8 to 3.52) for total motor score; 1.68 (95% CI: 0.44 to 2.92) for chorea; 3.57 (95% CI: -3.41 to 10.55) for UHDRS cognition; 4.01 (95% CI: -0.11 to 8.13) for UHDRS behavior, and 6.43 (95% CI: 0.2 to 12.66) for the NPI. Larger longer RCT of nabilone in HD is feasible and warranted.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Anti-Anxiety Agents; Behavioral Symptoms; Cognition Disorders; Cross-Over Studies; Disability Evaluation; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-Blind Method; Dronabinol; Female; Humans; Huntington Disease; Male; Middle Aged; Neuropsychological Tests; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Pilot Projects

Topics: Adult; Antiemetics; Cannabinoids; Cognition Disorders; Dronabinol; Humans; Male