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Multiple Sclerosis, Cannabinoids, and Cognition

Received May 17, 2007; revised August 13, 2007; accepted August 14, 2007. Drs. Papathanasopoulos, Messinis, and Lyros are affiliated with the Department of Neurology, Neuropsychology Section, at the University of Patras Medical School; Drs. Kastellakis and Panagis are affiliated with the Department of Psychology, Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, at the University of Crete. Address correspondence to Lambros Messinis, Ph.D., Department of Neurology, Neuropsychology Section, University of Patras Medical School, Rion, Patras, Greece; lmessinis{at}upatras.gr (e-mail).

There is increasing interest in the therapeutic potential of cannabis-based medicinal extracts in multiple sclerosis. Cognitive deficits that have been attributed to long-term heavy recreational use of cannabis are not necessarily extended to controlled pharmaceutical use of cannabis-based medicinal extracts. Available data indicate that after relatively short-term administration of cannabis-based medicinal extracts no significant cognitive decline occurs. Due to the absence of large scale long-term systematic clinical trials of cannabis-based medicinal extracts in multiple sclerosis therapeutics, however, many issues remain unresolved, including the possible adverse effects of cannabis-based medicinal extracts on cognition. This article critically reviews the current literature and considers the potential for cognitive adverse effects of long-term cannabinoid use in multiple sclerosis therapeutics.

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