Why it matters: The Dutch government is providing €1.4m ($1.5m) in funding for the UMC Utrecht Brain Center’s four-year study into the effects of high-CBD oil in children with severe epilepsy, which is set to begin recruiting participants this summer. Researchers will administer whole-plant high-CBD oil and will study whether the oil is effective in reducing seizures, as well as monitoring patients’ quality of life. Fifty participants who have not previously used CBD oil treatment will be enrolled.
What they are saying: Lead researcher, Floor Jansen, said the study’s focus is “on the individual”. She added that the team will pay attention to other important outcomes for patients, such as less use of emergency medication during prolonged attacks or a better night’s sleep. Jo Griffiths, chair of Intractable Epilepsy, called on the UK government to match the Dutch government’s funding “towards trials, and to run an NHS trial using the same oils” as part of efforts to help every child and young adult with intractable epilepsy access full-extract medicinal cannabis.
The big picture: The effects of cannabis on epilepsy are not well understood. However, previous studies have found that CBD reduced seizures in children with specific epilepsy-related syndromes. The four-year study at UMC Utrecht Brain Center aims to understand the effects of high-CBD oil in children living with severe epilepsy.
What to watch: Researchers will monitor the number of seizures and other “quality of life markers” such as seizure length, sleep, and alertness in 50 participants who have not previously used CBD oil treatment. The trial is planned to begin this summer, with the first patients expected to begin treatment by the end of the year.
My take: It is encouraging to see the Dutch government funding research into the effects of cannabis on severe epilepsy in children. However, more research is needed to understand the full effects of cannabis on various symptoms of epilepsy, and the complete long-term impact of cannabis use. There is also a need for greater access to medical cannabis for patients, including through the setting of standardized regulations for prescriptions and tighter controls on unregulated black market products.
