# Cannabidiol for Individuals at Risk for Alzheimer's Disease: A Randomized Placebo Controlled Trial

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · 2024 · $709,313

## Abstract

Research Summary
Epidemiological data have indicated that the use of products with cannabidiol (CBD) and other cannabinoids
have increased dramatically among adults over the age of 65. Recent survey data collected in Colorado
indicate that older adults who use cannabinoids believe that it helps alleviate pain, helps improve sleep quality,
and decreases negative affect (i.e., depression, anxiety). Older adults may also be taking cannabinoids like
CBD because they believe it might have a positive impact on the progression of dementia and cognitive
decline, as popularized by a recent Discover magazine article. Given the aforementioned socioeconomic
trends, the preclinical data suggesting that CBD may be neuroprotective, and our preliminary data suggesting
that CBD impacts key biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress, it is clearly time to assess the impact of
these products on the cognitive health of older adults who are at high risk for AD. The significance of this
question is underscored by both the rapidly aging population in the U.S. (>60 million adults over the age of 65
by 2025), the prevalence of MCI (~15–20%) and Alzheimer’s (about 10% or 6-7 million), as well as the
enormous mortality, morbidity, and socioeconomic costs of AD. The proposed research will address this public
health research need with a gold standard, 24 week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial
(RCT) comparing full spectrum hemp-derived CBD, to CBD alone, and to placebo. The proposed study will
determine whether CBD impacts the progression of biomarkers related to neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s
disease and determine whether CBD impacts measures of anxiety, depression, sleep, and pain in a population
at high risk for AD. The research will also determine whether any effects of CBD on outcomes are mediated by
the effect of CBD on biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress and/or changes in endocannabinoids.
Given the number of older adults at risk for AD who are using CBD products and given that these individuals
believe that these products are helpful, the proposed well-controlled trial will have a significant impact by
informing the public about the effects of CBD, regardless of the outcome of the analyses (positive or negative).

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10870209
- **Project number:** 5R01AG079502-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
- **Principal Investigator:** Angela Bryan
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $709,313
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-07-01 → 2028-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10870209

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10870209, Cannabidiol for Individuals at Risk for Alzheimer's Disease: A Randomized Placebo Controlled Trial (5R01AG079502-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10870209. Licensed CC0.

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