Studies carried out at the Federal University for Latin American Integration (Unila) place Foz do Iguaçu as a national reference in research into the use of cannabis medicinal for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Conducted by the Laboratory of Medicinal Cannabis and Psychedelic Science (LCP), the research shows positive results in the treatment carried out with cannabis medicinal in a group of autistic people over 18 years old, says visiting professor at Unila and researcher at LCP Micheline Donato.
“We found significant changes in improving sleep, anxiety and socialization, and dietary restrictions,” he reports.
According to the scientist, in general, the research shows benefits in the quality of life of adults. She considers the plant a great medicinal technological tool of the 21st century.
The professor spoke about the subject at the latest edition of Pint of Science, a science outreach event held in Foz do Iguaçu between May 19th and 22nd.
In the lecture entitled “Multisensory Journey: Connecting Cannabis, Autism and the Pale Blue Dot”, Micheline contextualized autism and showed how the herb can be an ally for those who suffer from the disorder.
Watch the video:
According to the researcher, autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder. A person is born autistic and spends their entire life with this condition.
ASD is caused by genetic factors that result in changes to brain architecture, leading people to behave differently.
At least two-thirds of 8-year-old children in the United States are diagnosed with the disorder, a ratio of one person to every 36.
The main symptoms are:
- persistent deficit in social communication and interaction (sometimes the autistic person is completely literal);
- behavioral changes;
- restricted and repetitive patterns;
- hyperfocus on a particular subject.
Diagnoses begin to be made from 1 year and 4 months of age, and there are cases that range from mild to severe.
One of the profiles that draws attention is related to the mildest cases, called support 1. This person, according to the professor, is generally invisible because their diagnoses are never resolved.
“It’s that depression that never gets better, that psychotic episode that always comes and ruminating thoughts that always happen, the eternal questioning of what am I doing on this planet,” explains Micheline.
Conventional treatments are based on antipsychotics, anxiolytics and antidepressants, which do not solve the problem, emphasizes the researcher.
Ancient medicinal plant
A cannabis is an ancient plant that has had medicinal uses in the past. With the scientific name Cannabis Sativa, has the capacity to produce more than one hundred cannabinoids.
One of them, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), has several applications and can be used as a non-narcotic analgesic, antiemetic (reduces nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy) and muscle relaxant.
However, in high concentrations, it can induce psychosis, depending on each person's genetic predisposition.
Another cannabinoid, CBD (cannabidiol), acts as an anxiolytic, antipsychotic, antiepileptic and neuroprotective.
Hahaha, that's the ideal place to research narcotics. I remember going on a visit to the institution and coming across a young woman smoking an illicit substance near the entrance to the institution. I wonder what they did to this country.