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Question of the Day


Is cannabinoid-based therapy likely to differentially effect Huntington's disease (HD) patients compared to other patient populations?

The effect of cannabinoids on HD patients may be unique compared to other populations, as HD is characterized by widespread dysfunction in the endocannabinoid system. Analyses of human tissue have consistently found that CB1 receptor levels and ligand binding decline by 50% in the caudate and putamen, and 25% in the cortex, in early symptomatic HD patients that have presented with chorea for 1 year. Levels of CB2 receptors and fatty acid amide hydrolase are higher, while levels of N-acyl phosphatidylethanolamine-specific phospholipase D are lower in putamen tissue from late-stage HD patients. Therefore, cannabinoid therapy is highly likely to differentially effect HD patients compared to other populations. Importantly, cannabinoid therapies may have different effects depending on the stage of HD and specific symptom presentation for any given patient.