| Chapter title |
Endocannabinoids
|
|---|---|
| Chapter number | 7 |
| Book title |
Endocannabinoids
|
| Published in |
Handbook of experimental pharmacology, January 2015
|
| DOI | 10.1007/978-3-319-20825-1_7 |
| Pubmed ID | |
| Book ISBNs |
978-3-31-920824-4, 978-3-31-920825-1
|
| Authors |
Pryce, Gareth, Baker, David, Gareth Pryce, David Baker |
| Editors |
Roger G. Pertwee |
| Abstract |
There are numerous reports that people with multiple sclerosis (MS) have for many years been self-medicating with illegal street cannabis or more recently medicinal cannabis to alleviate the symptoms associated with MS and also amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). These anecdotal reports have been confirmed by data from animal models and more recently clinical trials on the ability of cannabinoids to alleviate limb spasticity, a common feature of progressive MS (and also ALS) and neurodegeneration. Experimental studies into the biology of the endocannabinoid system have revealed that cannabinoids have efficacy, not only in symptom relief but also as neuroprotective agents which may slow disease progression and thus delay the onset of symptoms. This review discusses what we now know about the endocannabinoid system as it relates to MS and ALS and also the therapeutic potential of cannabinoid therapeutics as disease-modifying or symptom control agents, as well as future therapeutic strategies including the potential for slowing disease progression in MS and ALS. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | 3 | 17% |
| United States | 3 | 17% |
| Belize | 1 | 6% |
| Qatar | 1 | 6% |
| Hungary | 1 | 6% |
| Unknown | 9 | 50% |
Demographic breakdown
| Type | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Members of the public | 16 | 89% |
| Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 2 | 11% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 1 | 1% |
| Hungary | 1 | 1% |
| Unknown | 96 | 98% |
Demographic breakdown
| Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Student > Bachelor | 18 | 18% |
| Researcher | 14 | 14% |
| Student > Master | 12 | 12% |
| Student > Ph. D. Student | 11 | 11% |
| Student > Postgraduate | 9 | 9% |
| Other | 18 | 18% |
| Unknown | 16 | 16% |
| Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine and Dentistry | 18 | 18% |
| Neuroscience | 17 | 17% |
| Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 11 | 11% |
| Psychology | 8 | 8% |
| Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 7 | 7% |
| Other | 19 | 19% |
| Unknown | 18 | 18% |