Bordeaux, France: The administration of the cannabinoid cannabidivarin (CBDV) moderates the progression of Fragile X syndrome (FXS), according to preclinical data published in the journal Cells.
An international team of researchers from France, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States assessed the efficacy of CBDV treatment in a mouse model of Fragile X syndrome. FXS is a genetic disorder resulting in developmental delays, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems, such as aggression and attention deficits.
Investigators reported that CBDV administration during adolescence prevented cognitive and behavioral changes in a manner similar to other pharmacological treatments. By contrast, CBDV’s effects were “marginal” when the compound was administered during adulthood.
They determined: “Overall, these data demonstrate that CBDV, when administered chronically and starting at juvenile age, holds a solid therapeutic potential for FXS as it prevented the most relevant behavioral alterations shown by … mice. Early timing and chronic duration of treatment appear as critical determinants to ensure the beneficial effects of CBDV.”
The study’s authors concluded, “These results thus encourage future clinical studies using phytocannabinoids for treating not only FXS but also other neurodevelopmental disorders.”
Parents and caregivers of children with FXS patients report using CBD for symptom management. The administration of a transdermal gel containing CBD has been shown to be safe and effective in FSX patients in randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials.
Full text of the study, “Early administration of the phytocannabinoid cannabidivarin prevents the neurobehavioral abnormalities associated with the Fmr1-KO mouse model of Fragile X syndrome,” appears in Cells.