Researchers at The University of Notre Dame have selected Catholic Homes to be part of a ground-breaking study to be undertaken by the University’s Institute for Health Research in partnership with Israel-based, MGC Pharmaceuticals.
The clinical trial, which is to be held across 14 months, will involve 50 participants over the age of 65 with mild dementia and who currently live in an accredited residential aged care facility.
More than 400,000 Australians live with dementia and more than 1.5 million Australians are involved in their care.
Michelle Barrow, Executive Manager of Residential Care Services, says Catholic Homes is committed to this innovative treatment for the long-term, adding that this treatment method is a much softer approach to traditional treatments.
The medical cannabis oil, called “Cognicann”, will be trialled over 18 weeks as an oral spray.
Catholic Homes’ residents are invited to volunteer starting in November 2019.
To be eligible for the trial, they must have a diagnosis of dementia, live in a residential aged care facility, be aged 65 years or older, and are compliable to taking medication.
“We’re optimistic that the cannabis trials will help to reduce behavioural and neuropsychiatric symptoms ranging from anxiety, aggression, insomnia, and hallucinations. Medicinal cannabis may also increase appetite in those who have experienced a loss of appetite as a symptom of dementia,” Ms Barrow affirmed.
Professor Jim Codde, UNDA Director of Institute for Health Research, says the ultimate aim of the study is to improve the quality of life for dementia and Alzheimer’s suffers by freeing them from a range of agitation and psychotic symptoms that comes with the disease, and often impact on the their families and loved ones.
“Planning for the study has been extremely extensive and involved other key stakeholders including medical experts, aged care practitioners and our ethics committee to ensure the well-being of participants throughout the study,” Prof Codde cited.
UNDA Pro Vice Chancellor Prof Greg Blatch added that the study reflects the university’s focus on ground-breaking, collaborative research that makes a real difference to local, national and international communities.
“Notre Dame’s health and medical research has been rated well above the world standard and is underpinned by strong partnerships with industry,” Prof Blatch said.
All participants will be randomly allocated into two treatment groups where they will be administered and alternated between the medical cannabis oil and a placebo trial.
Comprehensive safety monitors will be in place to monitor side effects as well as withdrawal and exit strategies where appropriate.
For more information, contact Catholic Homes Manager of Clinical Services Donna Kelly via donna.kelly@catholichomes.com or 0437 692 704.
Aged care facility managers who are interested in having suitable residents involved in this trial can contact Dr Amanda Timler via amanda.timler@nd.edu.au