“Chemotherapy is frequently associated with long-term cognitive impairments in cancer survivors that negatively impact their quality of life. Effective mitigation strategies for cancer therapy-related cognitive impairments (CRCI) are still underdeveloped. Our clinical studies on breast cancer patients treated with doxorubicin (Adriamycin®, ADR) and cyclophosphamide (CYP) found significant CRCI associated with neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory signatures.

Current preclinical and clinical studies highlight the potential of cannabidiol (CBD) for alleviating cognitive deficits in neurodegenerative conditions.

For example, Epidiolex® is an FDA-approved 99% pure formulation of CBD for treating pediatric epilepsy. CBD, a non-psychoactive component of cannabis, is recognized for its neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects.

This study, using a mouse model of adjuvant chemotherapy (ADR and CYP)-induced cognitive decline, tested the efficacy of oral administration of 99% pure CBD (20 mg/kg) in sesame oil. ADR + CYP-treated mice receiving CBD for one month showed significant neurocognitive improvements in learning and memory, executive function, and memory consolidation tasks often impaired in cancer survivors. CBD treatment also restored brain endocannabinoid (ECB) levels and reduced ECB-metabolizing enzymes in vivo. Notably, CBD mitigated chemotherapy-induced loss of neurogenesis, neuronal plasticity, synaptic density, and elevated gliosis.

In summary, this data provides preclinical evidence for a translationally feasible approach to alleviate CRCI, an unmet medical need.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42202974

“Oral administration of cannabidiol (CBD, 99% purity) formulation significantly ameliorated chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairments in learning, memory, executive function, and memory consolidation in mice.”

“CBD restored endocannabinoid signaling, reduced neuroinflammation, and preserved neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and neuronal integrity.”

“These results identify a translationally feasible CBD-based strategy to mitigate cancer therapy-related cognitive impairment in survivors.”

“Taken together, these findings provide convergent behavioral, molecular, and cellular evidence that oral administration of 99% pure CBD post-chemotherapy can ameliorate CRCI by normalizing ECB tone, reducing microglial and astrocytic activation, preserving synaptic integrity, restoring activity-dependent plasticity, and rescuing neurogenesis.

Considered alongside prior reports that stem cell therapies, BDNF augmentation, and cannabinoid or paracannabinoid agents can reverse neurotoxic treatment-related cognitive deficits, the present study positions CBD as a mechanistically informed, clinically accessible candidate for future trials targeting CRCI in cancer survivors.”

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304383526003757?via%3Dihub