CBD improves the behavior of children with autism: study

Talk about a foreseen high progress.

A new study by the University of São Paulo suggests that cannabidiol cannabis extract (CBD) can help improve behavior and relieve common symptoms in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

“Global prevalence of the ASD diagnosis population in children and adolescents is growing, but many ways of treatment are not effective,” said the main researcher Dr. Lara Branco. “I am promising to see the effect of the CBD cannabis extract on study participants.”

ASD is a wide term that includes a set of development conditions marked by repeated behaviors, communication problems and difficulties in navigating social interactions.

The number of autism diagnoses in the US has increased in recent years, increasing by a stunning 175% between 2011 and 2022, mainly directed by a stroke among young people.

Today, the CDC estimates that about 1 in 36 American children are in the spectrum. Studies show that emotional and behavioral issues are more common in youth with autism than their neurotypical peers, significantly affecting both the child and the quality of their family’s life.

“ASD can be extremely disappointing for everyone involved; parents of children and adolescents with disorder, treatment clinics and of course children and adolescents themselves,” said Professor Geert Dom, president of the European Psychiatric Association.

“Much of this disappointment depends on finding a applicable treatment option that works to reduce the symptoms,” he noted.

Enter the CBD, a natural composition from the cannabis plant that is receiving attention to its possible health benefits.

Unlike THC – the psychoactive complex that causes a “high” – CBD has no intoxicating effects. Across the country, all 50 states have laws that legalize it with varying degrees of restriction.

While previous studies have hinted that the CBD’s potential for ASD symptoms management, comprehensive research on effectiveness and its risks has been limited.

To fill this gap, researchers perform a meta-analysis of three clinical trials that examine the use of CBD extracts in the treatment of 276 participants aged 5 to 21 in spectrum, 78% of whom were male.

The team found that the CBD cannabis extract improved the social response of the participants, the reduction of divisive behaviors, facilitated the anxiety and expanded quality of sleep.

Essentially, the CBD did not cause more unfavorable events than a placebo, suggesting it has a “favorable security profile”.

“These findings support the possible consideration of CBD cannabis extracts in ASD treatment plans,” the study authors said.

However, they noted some restrictions on their meta-analysis, including the small number of studies and limited sample sizes. The researchers emphasized the need for greater, stronger evidence to fully assess its safety and efficiency.

“With the pleasure we see the results of this meta-analysis,” Dom said. “We hope to see further research on this, so that we can move towards a solution to the unfulfilled need within this community.”